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THE 



T^vro hundred and fiftieth 



ANNIVERSARY 



SETTLEMENT OF DUXBURY, 



June 17, 1887. 



PLYMOUTH: 
Avert & Doten, Book and Job Printers. 

1887. 



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GopY 



93 



" They who on glorious ancestry enlarge, 
.Produce their debt instead of their discharge. 



PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS. 



On the 7th of June, 1637, old style, the 
General Court of the Plymouth Colony passed 
the following act : 

"June 7tii, 1637. It is enacted by the Court that 
Dueksborrow shall become a townesbip aad unite togethet' 
for their better securitie and to have the p''veledges of a 
towue onely their bounds and limmits shalbe sett and ap- 
poynted by the next Court." 

The difference between the old style and the 
new in 1637 was ten days, and consequently 
the 17th of June, new style, represents the date 
of the incorporation of Duxbury. At the 
annual meeting of the town, held on the 4th of 
April, 1 887, in view of the fact that the two 
hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incor- 
poration would occur within the year, it was 
voted : 

"That it is the sense of this meeting to celebrate the 
250th anniversary of the Town's incorporation, and that 
the sum of $300 be guaranteed by the Town for the cele- 
bration." 

It was also voted : 

"To choose a committee of twelve to take charge of 
the celebration, and they have power to add more to said 
committee if needed." 



TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 



In accordance with the second vote, a com- 
mittee was chosen consisting of: 

Laueence Bradford, Wm. J. Wright, 

Levi P. Simmons, Samuel Loring, 

Hambleton E. Smith, Wm. J. Alden, Jr., 

George Bradford, Frederick B. Knapp, 

JosEPHUs Dawes, J. W, Swift, 

Benjamin G. Cahoon, LeBaron Goodwin. 

The Committee was subsequently enlarged 
by the appointment of: 

George W. Wright, John W. Tower, 
John S. Loring, John B. Hollis, Jr., 

Josiah Peterson, Albert M. Thayer. 

The organization of the Committee was 
effected by the choice of William J. Wright, 
Chairman; William J. Alden, Jr., Secretary, 
and John S. Loring, Treasurer. 

Immediate steps were taken by the Commit- 
tee to secure by subscription a guarantee fund, 
which proving satisfactory, the Committee en- 
tered at once upon the preparation of details 
for the celebration. 

It was decided that the exercises of the day 
should consist of a sunrise and sunset salute, 
accompanied by the ringing of bells, a Grand 
Army review, an open air concert, a proces- 
sion, an oration, a dinner, field sports, fireworks, 
and a ball. 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y 



The following sub-committees were appointed 
to have charge of the various features of the 
celebration : 

Of Recejdion—J . B. Hollis, Jr. 

On Fireworks — J. W. Swift. 

On Dinner— George Bradford, John S. Loring, Wm. 
J. Aldeu, .Jr. 

On Tents — John S. Loring. 

On G?Mns— William J. Wriglit. 

On Ball—Lexi P. Simmons, Wm. J. Alden, Jr., James 
McNaught. 

On Transportation — John W. Tower. 

On Field A^jwrte— Frederick B. Knapp. 

On Jfwsic— Benjamin G. Gaboon. 

On Grou7ids—J. W. Swift, Levi P. Simmons, Benja- 
min G. Cahoon. 

James Downey was appointed Chief Marshal, 
who selected as his aids Samuel Atwell, Jr., 
James H. Killian, John H. Haverstock, and 
George B. Wright. 

It was voted to invite Justin Winsor, Esq., 
to deliver the oration, and his acceptance was 
reported to the Committee. 

It was also voted to invite the Collingwood 
Post, No. 76, of Plymouth, the William Wads- 
worth Post 165, of Duxbury, the Martha Sever 
Post, No. 154, of Kingston, of the Grand Army; 
the Grand Canton Bunker Hill, I. O. O. R, of 
Charlestown, the Sagamore Encampment, No. 
54, I. O. O. F., of Plymouth, the Adams Lodge, 



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6 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

No. 189, I. O. O. F., of Kingston, and the Mat- 
takeeset Lodge, No. iro, I. O. O. F., of Dux- 
bury, to take part in the clebration. 

If was further voted to invite as Q-uests of 
the Town the following gentlemen : 

His Excellency, Grover Cleveland, President of the 
United States. 

His Excellency, Oliver Ames, Governor of Massa- 
chusetts, and staff. 

His Honor, J. Q. A. Brackett, Lieutenant-Governor of 
Massachusetts. 

Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Executive Council. 
" George F. Hoar, United States Senate. 
" John D. Long, United States House of Repre- 
sentatives. 

Gen. Samuel Dalton, Adjutant-General of the Com- 
monwealth. 

Hon. Henry B. Peirce, Secretary of the Commonwealth. 

Hon. Edgar J. Sherman, Attorney-General of the 
Commonwealth. 

Hon. H. J. Boardman, President of Massachusetts 
Senate. 

Hon. Jubal C. Gleason, Massachusetts Senate. 

Hon. Charles J. Noyes, Speaker of Massachusetts 
House of Representatives. 

C. B. Tillinghast, Esq., Assistant State Librarian. 

Capt. J. G. B. Adams, Sergeant-at-Arms. 

E. Herbert Clapp, Esq., Clerk of Massachusetts Senate. 

Col. George AV. Campbell, Secretary of the Governor. 

Col. Leverett Saltoustall, Collector of Boston. 

Gen. John M. Corse, Postmaster of Boston. 

William J. Dale, Jr., Esq., Assistant Postmaster of 
Boston. 



ANNIVEIiSAliY OF DUXBURY. 1 

Gen. Nathaniel P. Bauks, United States Marshal. 
Rev. George E. Ellis, D. D., President of Massa- 
chusetts Historical Society. 

Abuer C. Goodell, Esq., President of New England 
Historic Genealogical Society. 

Hon. Curtis Guild, President of Bostonian Society. 
Justin Winsor, Esq., Librarian of Harvard College. 
Hon. Mellen Chamberlain, Librarian of Boston Library. 
" Robert C. Winthrop, Boston. 
" George B. Loring, Salem. 
" Charles Levi Woodbury, Boston. 
" John D. Washburn, Worcester. 
" Edward S. Tobey, Boston. 
" William T. Davis, Plymouth. 
" Stephen M. Allen, Boston. 
" B. W. Harris, East Bridgewater. 
" Matthew H. Gushing, Middleboro. 
" Peleg McFarlin, Carver. 
Rev. Frederick N. Knapp, Plymouth. 
" Edward Everett Hale, Boston. 
" Henry M. Dexter, D. D., New Bedford. 
" James B. Dunn. 
Hon. Benjamin S. Lovell. 
Hon. Philander Cobb, Kingston. 
J. Henry Stickney, Esq., Baltimore. 
Charles Deane, L. L. D., Cambridge. 
Francis Parkman, Esq., Boston. 
Col. William E. Taylor, " 
" Henry W. Wilson, " 
" Henry Walker, " 

L. Miles Standish, Esq., " 
Francis CoUamore, M. D., Pembroke. 
James B. Brewster, M. D., Plymouth. 
James Wilde, M. D., Duxbury. 



8 TWO BUND RED AND PIFTIETH 

J. R. Kendrick, Esq., General Manager Old Colony 
Railroad. 

J. H. French, Esq., Superintendent Old Colony Rail- 
road. 

George G. Dyer, Esq., Plymouth. 

Capt. Charles C. Doten, " 

Winslow W. Avery, Esq., " 

William S. Danforth, Esq., " 

William S. Morissey, Esq., " 

William W. Brewster, Esq., " 

Miles Standish, Esq., New York. 

John H. Parks, Esq., Duxbury. 

John Alden, Esq., Duxbury. 

Samuel P. Soule, ^ 

Joshua W. Swift, V Selectmen of Duxbury. 

George Weston, J 

Francis P. Arnold, Esq., Pembroke. 

John H. Bourne, Esq., Marshfield. 

Robert A. Southworth, Esq., Charlestown. 

Samuel Snow, Esq. 

Henry Winsor, Esq., Philadelphia. 

Joshua Merrill, Esq. 

George M. Baker, Esq., Marshfield. 

Thomas Chandler, Esq., Duxbury. 

William C. Burrage, Esq., Boston, 

George H. Norman, Esq., Boston. 




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ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 9 

The day of the celebration was all that could 
be desired, — cloudy in the morning, but with a 
clear sky and a warm sun, while the exercises 
were going on, tempered by light airs from the 
sea. At an early hour, the Grand Army Posts 
gathered at the South Duxbury Station, and 
from thence proceeded to Soule's Corner, 
where, in accordance with the programme, a 
review was held, followed by a concert by the 
American Band, of South Weymouth, at the 
station. At half past ten, on the arrival of 
the train from Boston, His Excellency, the 
Governor, was received with a salute of seven- 
teen guns, and the procession was speedily 
formed to march through the Main street and 
by Hall's Corner, to the tents pitched on the 
grounds of George W. Wright, Esq., at the 
north end of the village. 

The procession marched in the following 

order : 

Chief Marshal James Downey. 

Aids: — Samuel Atwell, Jr., James H. Killiau, John H. 

Haverstock, George B. Wright. 

Silver Fife and Drum Corps, of Plymouth. 

CoUingwood Post, No. 76, of Plymouth. Commander : 

A. O. Brown. 

William J. Wright, Esq., the President of the Day, and 

invited guests in carriages, including 

His Excellency, the Governor, and Staff ; Justin Wiusor, 

Esq., the Orator of the Day; Hon. H. J. Boardman, 

Hon. Charles J. Noyes, Adjutant-General Samuel Dalton, 



10 TWO HUNDWED AND FIFTIEtS 

Hon. Henry B Peirce, Hon. George B. Loring, Hon. 
John D. Long, Hon. Mellen Cluim])erlain, Hon. William 
T. Davis, Hon. B. W. Harris, Hon. Stephen M. Allen, 
Hon. Charles L. Woodbury, Rev. PVederick N. Kuapp, 
Rev. George M. Bodge, Capt. J. G. B. Adams, L. Miles 
Standish, Esq., Charles Deane, Esq. 

American Baud, of South Weymouth. 
William Wadsworth Post, No. 165, of Duxbury. Com- 
mander : John W. Tower. 
Martha Sever Post, No. 154, of Kingston. Com- 
mander : George E. Owens. 
Randolph Band. 
Grand Canton Bunker Hill, I. O. O. F., of Charlestown. 
Commandant: Major E. W. Brown. 
Plymouth Band. 
Sagamore Encampment, No. 54, 1. O. 0. F., of Plymouth. 
Commander: Major S. H. Doten. 
Adams Lodge, No. 189, I. O. 0. F., of Kingston. 
Mattakeeset Lodge, No. 110, I. 0. O. F., of Duxbury. 
Citizens of Duxbury and adjoining towns. 
At half past twelve o'clock the spacious 
tent in which the oration was to be held was 
filled, and William J. Wright Esq., the Presi- 
dent of the Day, introduced Rev. Frederick N. 
Knapp, of Plymouth, who opened the exercises 
with a fervent prayer. The following hymn, 
written by Rev. G. M. Bodge, was then sung, 
to the tune of Duke Street : 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 1 1 



HYMN. 



Our Father's God, with fervent praise 
Of heart and voice, we come to thee ; 

Their children's children's hands we raise 
Toward heaven, and know they still are free. 

Old ocean's billows swell and beat, 

In ceaseless roll along our shore ; 
And with our hearts to-day repeat 

The precious names the "Mayflower" bore. 

Their noble zeal, their high intent. 

Thro' doubts and darkness found the way ; 

To all their age a glory lent, — 
The dawn-light of a brighter day. 

Their spirit still to us impart. 

Their holy heritage to keep, — 
Freedom and faith, in hand and heart, 

"While oceans roll, and centuries sweep. 

The President then said : 

In behalf of the Town of Duxbury, I welcome you 
all on this, the 17th day of June, our two hundred and 
fiftieth anniversary ; a day to which the battle of Bunker 
Hill has given a National fame, and a never fading glory. 
We have with us as invited guests many distinguished 
gentlemen, from whom at a later hour you will hear patri- 
otic and eloquent words, but my simple duty now is to 
introduce to you one whom you all honor, and who as a 
native of your town does honor to you, Justin Winsor, 
Esq., the Orator of the Day. 



12 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 



ORATION. 



I PRAT you let the dissolving view of another scene 
than this come to your inner vision. Picture yourselves 
at the doorstone of Miles Standish in the declining hours 
of a day in June, two centuries and a half ago. Gaze 
attentively upon the knots of people looking out upon 
the placid waters of yonder bay, and turning their eyes 
upon a mellowing sky beyond the Kingston Hills. 

You cau hardly mistake the master of the house. His 
three-and-fifty years have left some, if not heavy, marks 
upou a frame that in his 3'ounger days had borne the 
severities of campaigns in regular armies, and in his 
sterner manhood had endured the rigors of the wilder- 
ness. But you can see that his face still has the volatile 
lines which mark a nature quick in passion. His eye has 
still the alertness and his motions the rapidity of those 
earlier days when he fought in Flanders, and of the latter 
ones when he braved the braggart Pecksuot in the cabin 
at Wessagusset, or quelled by his daring the revolt of 
Corbitant. We know by the inventory of his books that 
the " Commentaries of Cossar " was a household volume ; 
and we may well conjecture how, with his children and 
Hobamok looking on, he could trace upon the sand, and 
place pebbles to mark, the marches and camps of the 
Roman Legions in Gaul. He was now, as he continued 
to be for a score of years yet left to him, trusted in the 
counsels of the civil government of the colony, and it 
may be upon his urgency in the Court of Assistants on 
the morrow that Duxbury is to enter upou her corporate 
existence. We may well imagine, in view of this con- 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. IS 

teniplated action, how this little gathering of neighbors 
was formed as a last conference in the scant community, 
which for five years had been taking up its house-lots 
along the margin of the bay, and was now combining, 
after the promptings of their English birthright, to secure 
their own local government. 

Of the Court which was to decide upon their petition in 
the morning, there were others besides Standish who 
might well have attended this supposable conference. 
There was Edward Winslow, who had settled at Green- 
harbor, as Marshfield was then called, probably occupying 
a temporary summer shelter there at as early a period as 
when on the hillocks along the Duxbury shore others of 
the Plymouth people had begun to build their rude houses. 
It was just about the time which we are now considering 
that Winslow had built himself a more commodious 
lodging, in which he might dare to brave the winter, 
and had dignified his estate with a name associated with 
his ancestral line ; for he and Standish were the only 
ones of the first comers whose family stock seems to have 
been above the yeoman class. There was no definition 
yet of the bounds of the proposed new town ; and it was 
to surround if not to include Winslow's grant at Marsh- 
field, and to stretch, as was determined some years later, 
to the North River. Much the same reason had lured 
Winslow to make a permanent abiding place at Green- 
harbor as had brought Standish and the rest to settle 
along the Duslniry fields, and as three years later Winslow 
with his neighbors at Greenharbor were to seek incor- 
poration in the same way ; and as he was to make part 
of the Court to determine upon the application of 
those of Duxbury, we may well imagine him to have 
joined this probable group. The name which had been 
selected for the new town, and which for some years had 



14 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

been commonly applied to the settlement on this side of 
the bay, was a reminiscence of Staudish's early days 
and of his connection with an ancestral line which 
centred its history in family estates in Lancashire, 
known to this day as Standish Hall and Dnxbury Hall. 
The somewhat lordly promises of Standish's will, for the 
benefit of his son Alexander and his descendants, give a 
little pleasant flavor of baronial state to the decidedly 
democratic feeling of the earl}^ Plymouth records. It 
helps us to understand the two somewhat opposing 
phases of Standish's character, — the sympathetic, com- 
panionable nature that impelled him into the simple ways 
and homely fortunes of the Pilgrims, and that reserve 
and perhaps hauteur of individualism which never forgot 
his inherited rights. 

Standish seems, if we may trust the records, to have 
brought to the Pilgrim store small riches compared with 
that somewhat profuse wealth which his will represents 
him as having been surreptitiously deprived of ; or at 
least he stands on the lists of rate-payers of the little 
colony far below Winslow and Collier, the other mem- 
bers of the Court of Assistants for this year, from this 
part of the bay and beyond. Riches to these early 
settlers consisted not so much in land as in the ability to 
work it, in the cattle they could feed, and in the mer- 
chandise they could order from England. Now that the 
settlements of Massachusetts Bay were well established 
and prospering, the Plymouth people, — who had largely 
increased their herds and flocks from the small impor- 
tation of three heifers and a bull, which had been brought 
over in 1624, — found a quick sale for any surplus in the 
necessities of the Massachusetts people ; and Bradford 
offers serious complaint that the accumulation of riches, 
and the methods to that end, were making sad changes 



ANmVERSAR Y OF D UXB Ult Y. 15 

iu the quiet, self-centred little commuuity which but a 
few years before had made the town of Plymouth 
homogeneous and conteut. This increase of their stock 
had induced them to move farther and farther from tlie 
town to find pasturage ; and where a summer sojourn 
had sufficed at first, a permnuence of settlement, pro- 
vided with all the relief and aids by which the winter 
could be combated, necessarily soon followed, breaking 
up connections with the parent church at Plymouth, and 
at one time causing almost the desertion of that town. 
It was not without grievous presentiments of evils to 
come in this train of events, that Bradford records these 
beginnings of the towns of Duxbury and Marshfield. 
His fears that the division of the church would lead to 
political independence in local affairs was only too 
evident some years before it came ; and Bradford must 
confront the inevitable issue at the sitting of the Court 
on the next day, for which this little conference was 
preparing. 

Plymouth had in fact b}^ this time ceased to be the 
chief home of the "Mayflower" Pilgrims. Bradford was 
the only one of the first comers of much cousideration 
remaining iu that town. It stirred him deeply to find 
how the chief men had abandoned the places which had 
been hallowed by their early sufferings. Brewster, 
Standish, Winslow, Alden, Rowland, and two of their 
companions in that fateful voyage of whom we hear less, 
George Soule and Henry Sampson, — every one w^as now 
living on the Duxbury side and adjacent. Of those who 
had come later. Collier and Prince and the sons of 
Bi-ewster were their neighbors here. What Plymouth 
thus early lost she has never regained; and the "May- 
flower" blood in the male lines, except as descendants 
of these Duxbury settlers have returned to the old home, 



16 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

make no longer an appreciable part of her population. 
I recall how forty years ago, as a boy, smitten with the 
love of genealogy, I traced down the widening lines of 
descent from the "Mayflower," and found, as it seemed 
to me, half the people of this town possessed of the 
strain of the Pilgrim blood. 

Of more marked bearing, perhaps, than either Staudish 
or Winslow, is he who is the eldest by much of all who 
are gathered before us, and whose memory goes back for 
nearly seventy years. How should we like to-day that 
instrument, which the scientists say we may one day 
possess, to take from the air still palpitating with the 
undulating words of this reverend man his discourse, as 
he stands there in reverie, turning aside it may be at 
times to impart to Ralph Partridge, the new-come min- 
ister of the town, the shifting visions of the past ! 
There was, indeed, little in the scene before him, — the 
waters streaked with the vagrant breezes, the rosy flush 
that lay over the distant hills of Plymouth, the purple 
mass of Manomet, and the woody headland of the 
Gurnet peering above the dusky outline of yonder 
island, — little in all this to bring back, except by cou- 
ti'ast, that village of Scrooby, in Nottinghamshire, where 
he passed his childhood. Think for a moment of this 
aged Christian teacher, and of this doughty soldier, pass- 
ing among his guests and coming to the other's side, and 
of the contrasts and startling visions which might have 
come and gone, dissolving in their minds, — Brewster, 
who might well have copied for Secretary Davison, his 
master, the death warrant of the Catholic Mary Queen of 
Scots ; and Staudish, with his recollections of the cam- 
paigns in Flanders, where, scion of a Catholic stock 
himself, we are told that his sword had been wielded 
against the Spanish Romanists ! Think, again, how the 




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ANNIVEIiSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 1 7 

hoary associations of the storied halls along the Cam 
might have poured upon the mind of Brewster, as he 
recalled his life at the Euglish university, when at Peter- 
house College nearly sixty years before he had laid the 
foundations of a learning which for many years was the 
most considerable possessed by any among the Pilgrims. 
As we look upon him now, he seems almost like a relic 
of a by-gone generation. The courtiers he had met, the 
scholars he had known, must have come and gone in his 
memory like the stalking shapes of a dream. "We can 
imagine how in his moments of reminiscence, as his 
thoughts went back to the friends of his early manhood, 
his heart if not his foot trod the Bay Path to the Massa- 
chusetts settlements, over which Partridge had so lately 
travelled. This new-comer could tell him how the 
colleges of Cambridge and Oxford had within these 
seven years sent their most heroic souls into this neigh- 
boring wilderness. But nearly all these men were quite 
a generation the juniors of Brewster. Partridge could 
tell him of a contemporary at the University, — Nathaniel 
"Ward, — and of the beginning of his ministry at Agawam 
in the Massachusetts, where his active intelligence made 
him a few years later the draftsman of the "Body of 
Liberties " of that sturdier colony. Partridge could 
tell him, too, of the men of his own college. Trinity ; 
and every message from the Bay brought word of what 
John Cotton had said in Boston, or Thomas "Welde in 
Roxbury, or Hugh Peters in Salem. Brewster could 
point to a fellow collegian of Peterhouse — long after 
him to be sure — in John Norton, to whom they had lis- 
tened in Plymouth for the winter, a year or two before. 

Recall, if you will, some of the other names which 
Massachusetts preserves, bearing thither from the Uni- 
versity of Cambridge the memories of her halls, and 



18 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTlETit 

awakening in the breast of William Brewster the tender 
affiliations of fellowship in learning, as he heard of their 
coming to carry a stout heart, and to press on with 
simple, earnest endeavor in breaking out the primordial 
pathways of a nation. The Pilgrims' shallop, as it 
explored the coast to the northward, must have brought 
to him word, even before the coming of Winthrop, of 
that mysterious recluse, William Blaxtou, who pre- 
empted in 1625 the site of the future Boston. Other 
Caml)ridge men whose wandering hither was not 
unknown to him were Francis Higginson, of Salem ; 
Roger Williams, who but a year or two before the 
time we are now considering had fled from Salem to 
Plymouth, to be hardly more welcome there with the 
upheavals of his instincts ; Thomas Hooker, who had 
but a twelvemonth before led a migrating community 
from the bauks of the Charles to the valley of the 
Connecticut, — a migration not without influence, as we 
shall see, upon the vote to be passed to-morrow ; the 
godly Shepard, who had taken the place which Hooker 
had left, little suspecting then that the unknown John 
Harvard, bringing with him the Puritanism of Emmanuel, 
at this very moment, when Brewster's reverie might 
have turned his spiritual eye to the future of learning in 
New England, was crossing the Atlantic with a dream 
of the great university shadowy in his mind, and bearing 
among his books, as we know from the list preserved in 
the College records, the Essays of John Robinson, the 
pastor of the Pilgrims. 

To a man of Brewster's learning, as Bradford 
describes it to us, the coming of Ralph Partridge to 
Mm as a neighbor must have produced grateful recol- 
lections of the associations of Cambridge in contrast 
to a time twenty years later than his own, and when 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 1 



Puritanism had made Emmanuel its stronghold. He 
could well remember how at Peterhouse he had acquired 
in the first instance his Puritan tendenc3% and how, as he 
left Cambridge for more stirring fields, it was still nnder 
the Puritan diplomatist Davison that he got his first 
glimpses of the Low Countries, so that when some years 
later he went thither into exile it was not to a land 
wholly unknown to him. It was this same Puritan 
Davison who later interceded to get him the office of 
postmaster in his native village, which his father had 
held before him, and which, through the control that it 
gave him of relays on the great post-route to the north, 
offered him a position of not a little local importance. 
Here it was in the habitable portion of an ancient 
manor-house of the archbishops of York, the postmaster 
William Brewster passed nearly twelve years of his early 
maturity, — years which proved to be the turning-point 
of his life. The motive and effect of that change of life, 
which had heretofore known its due share of the bustle 
of the world, we can well understand when we read that 
tribute to his character which has come down to us from 
the pen of Bradford, and which enables us from what he 
was in this cardinal period of his life to conjecture the 
man he was to become in the ripening of time. His 
friend tells us of Brewster's grave and deliberate utter- 
ance ; of his humble, modest, and inoft'eusive demeanor ; 
of his cheerful spirit, not dismayed by trial, and always 
rising above the worst that could beset him ; and of his 
tenderness, particularly for those who had been driven to 
extremities for which their life had not prepared them. 
If such was the native character of the man, it is not 
surprising that when that flock of English folk scattered 
about Scrooby in the three counties of Nottinghamshire, 
Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire had been drawn together 



20 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

and needed a friend earnest to protect them, they found 
one in William Brewster. The pity he felt for an 
inoffensive, humble people harried by the minions of the 
law, very easily became, as it happened, joined to 
the admiration which he could feel for such a servitor 
and minister as they had in John Robinson. This pastor 
and his principal follower were sharers by nature in all 
that was tender, tolerant, and hopeful in their religious 
feelings. Of Robinson's scholarship, — for he, too, 
was of Cambridge, though a dozen years later than 
Brewster, — his companion was to know the deepest 
and to honor the broadest part. It was through Brews- 
ter's welcome in his ancient manor-house that Robinson 
and his flock now found a place of meeting, when by 
stealth, or as best they could, they met for mutual 
comfortings and for the service of prayer. 

We may well suppose that Partridge listened to a 
story like this with the interest natural to one whom 
fortune had thrown among a people who had found a 
common inheritance in all the tender recollections of 
such a life as the older of the first comers had experi- 
enced. He could but see in the veneration felt for their 
ancient elder that the wisdom of Brewster, as it had been 
the guide of his neighbors, must be his own in his min- 
istration to this people in the coming years. From 
Brewster he must learn their individual traits ; he must 
know the joys and miseries of each household, the aspi- 
rations of one person, the estrangements of another ; 
and he must walk with him among the graves at Harden 
Hill, and listen to the completion of the family histories 
in the enumerations of those that are gone. 

I cannot now detail the whole course of that story 
which Brewster must have told to his new helper when- 
ever he easily reverted, as old men do, to the memories 



ANNIVERSARY OF DUXBURY. 21 

of their younger days ; of the hnprisoumeut which he 
suffered; of the flight with the congregation of Scrooby 
to Holland, — first to Amsterdam, where they found 
other English who had preceded them, and in whose 
controversies over the questions of bodices and high 
heels they were little inclined to join as a thing worth tlie 
enduring of exile. Brewster must have told liim how 
they parted with their less spiritual countrymen and 
passed on to Leyden, destined to be so long their home. 
You know the straits to which they submitted, — poverty, 
and hard labor for a living ; Ijut never forgetting the 
land which drove them forth. They who, as Bradford 
said, had been used "to a plain country life and the 
innocent trade of husbandry," were thus thrown into a 
strange city and forced to learn a strange tongue. We 
can well imagine how Partridge, who had been a Church 
of England clergyman, would listen to this wonderful 
story, — of Robinson holding all together by his tact and ' 
by his love ; of his gaining the respect of the Leyden 
University, which is illustrious with the names of 
Armiuius, Scaliger, and Grotius ; of his publicly dis- 
puting with the professors, when he had been honored 
with membership of their learned body ; and of his con- 
tributing by his acquirements and sweetness to that 
repute which they enjoyed with the Dutch, and which the 
honesty and orderliness of the less learned among these 
outcast English helped to intensify. Brewster might 
well revert to his honorable calling then as a school- 
master, teaching English through the Latin to Dutch, 
Dane, or German, as either required it. He might also 
recount how when later in their sojourn a young English 
gentleman had joined them, bringing doubtless some 
little capital to work with, so that Brewster and Winslow 
(perchance this same gentleman comes up now to the 



22 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

frout to listen to the recital) could set up a press and 
print for clandestine introduction into England the doc- 
trinal books and tracts that the licensers of the English 
press had prohibited. 

Standish himself might have joined in thfe talk, too, 
and told what we to-day would be glad to know, — just 
how he chanced to join this exiled people. It has been 
claimed of late ^^ears with some show of plausibility by 
Dr. Shea, the most eminent of the native Catholic writers 
on American history, that the fact (uncontroverted I 
believe) that Standish never became covenanted with the 
Pilgrim Church, coupled to the other fact (equally 
unchallenged I think) that he belonged to a Lancashire 
family, then as now one of the well-known Catholic 
families of the realm, afforded ground for holding the 
Duxbury captain to be one of that faith. These facts do 
not certainly prove it, nor yet is the allegation positively 
disproved by anything we know. If Standish were a 
Catholic, it may or may not have been known to his 
leading associates in the colony. To suppose they knew 
it, and because of his helpfulness to have ignored it, is 
but a step further than to have trusted him as they did 
when he was without the pale of their covenant. If 
Bradford had survived him to write his character as he 
wrote Brewster's, we might possibly have been informed. 
As it is, we inherit a mystery. 

But, see ! there is a new comer to our Leyden group. 
Who is that fair and rosy woman, bewitching one may 
well believe her to be, as she dismounts from the pillion 
behind John Alden, greets Barbara Standish, — the 
Captain's wife, — as she trips along in the eaily develop- 
ment of her matronly comeliness, glancing at the Captain 
himself, in remembrance of the incident which Longfellow 
has immortalized, and draws near to pay her affectionate 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 23 

homage to Elder Brewster, — who but that Priscilla who 
so witchingly said, "Prithee, why dou't you speak for 
yourself, Johu?" She makes iu the group a new 
element, for iu her veins courses the blood of the 
Huguenots ; and out of the Church of the Walloons in 
Leyden came the name of Molines, changed to MuUius, 
and Delauoye, which we now know as Delano. 

And so in these years of their exile in Holland the 
Pilgrim Church grew to about three hundred souls ; but 
with all their outward prosperity there was a spirit of 
unrest. It grieved their English hearts to see their 
young men growing up with foreign ways, marrying 
Dutch maidens and joining the Dutch marine. The 
truce of Holland with Spain, soon to expire, might bring 
upon them the clash of arms iu a countr}' not their own. 
They said to one another, "• Let us go hence to save this 
English blood of ours." " Let us go and carry Christ to 
the New World," said Edward AVinslow. 

There is no time to-day to rehearse the story which tlie 
narrative of Bradford has made clear to us, of the hard 
bargain which some English merchants forced upon them 
in their negotiations for the money necessary for their 
transfer to America. Here in William Collier is one of 
those same Loudon merchants who could tell us the 
whole story. He is one of the two or three of the sev- 
enty merchants who had heart enough in the migration 
to come over to share its liurdens ; and he had already 
settled, in compan}' with Prince and Jonathan Brewster, 
along the line of what we know as the shore road to 
Kingston. Prince had married a daughter of Collier, as 
had also Love Brewster, another son of the Elder. 
William Brewster himself had participated in those 
counsels for the outfit, but we cannot follow them now. 
Hard as the terms were, they were accepted ; and such 



24 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

of them as were to part with the major poi'tion of the 
Church that remained behind with Robinson passed their 
hist night in Leyden with feasting and psalms. Who 
would not wish that we had preserved to us in his very 
words the farewell address which Robinson made to 
them ; but it unfortunately has only come down to us as 
it floated in the memory of Edward AVinslow many years 
later, — with its exalted tenderness, its far-seeing wis- 
dom, and its lofty, tolerant purpose. 

We may suppose Brewster to have retired with the 
falling dews to his home, and to have left Alden to 
rehearse to Partridge the continuance of the story. 
There were three of the "Mayflower" settlers now in 
Duxbury who belonged to the class of which Alden was 
the most conspicuous member, — unless, perhaps, John 
Howland be excepted. These were men not of the 
Leyden stock, but hired by the company, or apprenticed 
or bound to some of the leading men at their immi- 
gration. In this way, though at coming a man of 
twent3'-seven, John Howland was a member of Governor 
Carver's family ; George Soule, at this time soon to 
become a settler at Powder Point and the ancestor of a 
numerous family of that name, was bound to Edward 
Winslow ; and Henry Sampson, a lad of six years at 
coming, was under the care of his cousins Edward Tilley 
and wife, both of whom died in that first grievous winter, 
while the youth Sampson had been at this time a year 
married, and was to become the ancestor of a numerous 
family, — though not of all bearing the name. The one 
person of this class whom Bradford singles out for com- 
mendation is John Alden. He tells us that he was hired 
for a cooper in Southampton, where the "Mayflower" 
fitted, " and being a hopeful young man," he adds, " was 




Q 

o 

w 

u 

w 

Q 

io 
W 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 25 



much desired, but left to his own liking to go or stay 
when he came here [to Plymouth] ; but he stayed and 
married here," and what that marriage with his fair 
Priscilla produced, the genealogical tables of numerous 
descendants abundantly make plain. 

We can imagine Alden now explaining to Partridge, 
the new minister, how he was pursuing his trade in 
Southampton when the "Mayflower" came round from 
London with such of the Pilgrims as had gathered there 
to join in the voyage ; and to these Londoners we can 
probably trace the London designation of landmarks, 
which in my boyhood were and perhaps still are familiar 
in this town, — Blackfriar's Brook, Billingsgate, Hound's 
Ditch, and the rest. Alden could tell how the little 
" Speedwell " had followed her into port for the rendez- 
vous, freighted with the heavy souls made indeed the 
lighter for the benedictions of Robinson, He would tell 
of the conference there, when he first came in contact 
with the noble spirits among whom his life was to be 
cast ; of the trials which he saw them endure as the 
merchants whom they had trusted for succor turned their 
backs upon them ; of their departure at last, and of 
their fears of the smaller ship ; their return to Dartmouth 
for repairs, their venturing again, their seeking a harbor 
once more at Plymouth on the Devonshire coast, their 
abandonment of the "Speedwell," their final start with 
all that the "Mayflower" could hold crowded in her 
narrow quarters, their voyage and its mishaps. He 
could tell of the beam of the deck sprung out of place by 
the storm that forced them to take in every sail, and how 
they succeeded in raising it into place by an iron screw 
which they had brought from Holland ; how John How- 
laud by a lurch of the ship had been hurled into the sea, 
and by good luck rescued to live many years, as Bradford 



M Two HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

says iu describing the incident, and to become " a profit- 
able member botli in Cluu'cli and Common wealtli." 

You remember they were bound under the patent wliich 
they had received from the Old Virginia Company to find 
land somewhere in the neighborhood of Hudson River, 
perhaps on the Connecticut, perhaps on the Jersey coast ; 
and it is almost equally certain that they had with 
them the map of the New England coast which John 
Smith had made when he examined its bays and head- 
lands six years before, and had later published with the 
native names displaced by the English ones marked by 
Prince Charles on the draught which the engraver fol- 
lowed. So when at last they sighted land they knew it 
by the description to be the sand-hills of that point 
which was called on Smith's map Cape James, after the 
Prince's royal father, but which the mariners who had 
been on the coast before, — and they had such among the 
crew, — told them was nevertheless known by those who 
frequented the region for traffic with the Indians by the 
designation which Captain Gosnold had given it eighteen 
years before, when he was surprised at the numbers of 
fish which he found thereabouts, and called it Cape Cod. 
As soon as it became evident where they were, they 
turned to the south to seek the place of their destination ; 
but before long getting among the shoals off Nauset, and 
feaiing that after all their tribulations they were running 
too great hazards to proceed, they turned once more 
northward, and rounding the head of the Cape came at 
last to anchor in the shelter of what we know now as 
Proviucetown harbor. 

I fear that the visitor, who stands on yonder hill and 
reads inscribed on the base of that monument the names 
of those who came in the "Mayflower," associates them 
all with that Faith which is typified in the statue above 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 27 



them ; but the scrutiny of the historian can lay his finger 
upon more than one name .in the list which stands for 
little of that sublimating virtue, for such names bek)ng to 
men thrown fortuitously among them, — hired men, or 
forced into the company by the cupidity of the merchants 
who backed their undertaking on its mercantile side. 
There were honorable exceptions among this class of the 
"Mayflower" company; and we can set here in John 
Alden, John Rowland, and George Soule those whose 
hopefulness of character made them soon take on the 
Pilgrims' spirit. But with John Smith's map spread out 
before them on the deck of the "Mayflower," and finding 
that stress of weather and the lateness of the season had 
rendered it necessary to cease the attempt to find a 
haven within the privileges of their patent, and that they 
were brought beyond the pale of the delegated authority 
which that patent vested in their leaders, on territory not 
within the bounds of such necessary control, — it was 
then that mutteriugs from some at least of these same 
hired men and apprentices, eager to make the most of 
their freedom which chance had seemingly given them, 
made it necessary to draft that immortal compact, wherein 
by the subscription of all this band of exiles, in the very 
spirit of their religious independence, took on themselves 
the power of a body politic, fit to govern themselves and 
compel the subjection of any that were evil disposed. 
Look around this little group, and see who among them 
are left of those that signed that fundamental example 
of constitutional government, — William Brewster, Miles 
Standish, Edward Winslow, John Alden, John Rowland, 
George Soule, — all here in Duxbury, and all except 
Soule men of the first consideration in the colony, of 
whom Alden was destined to be the latest survivor of all 
the signers, including the four others then living in 



28 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 



Plymouth,— Bradford and Stephen Hopkins; with two 
of less consideration, — Francis Cooke and Edward 
Doten. 

As a student of American history, I have often thought 
that of all the documents connected with that tlieme there 
were two I would give most to see. One is that early 
draught of the New World, making part of a map of the 
four quarters of the earth, drawn by Leonardo da Vinci, 
who of all men seemed easiest to stretch his vision to the 
periphery of all knowledge and of all mental capability,— 
drawn by Da Vinci, and bearing upon it, so far as exist- 
ing original records can demonstrate, the written name of 
America, for the first time in human history. That paper 
it was my fortune, some years since, to gaze upon, in the 
cabinet of the Queen at Windsor. The other document, 
transcending for us even in interest this of Da Vinci,— 
not that I would measure any name upon it with his in its 
superlative glory, bu1> that they are significant, for us at 
least, above all others in the history of constitutional 
government, — is this bit of paper which bears this 
business-like and comprehensive compact, this germ that 
has grown till the branches of the tree have covered a 
vast continent, this experiment which has riveted the 
attention of students of political science everywhere. 
But, alas! no one of this generation, no one of any 
generation within our record since the first comers them- 
selves, has looked upon it ; and even to this little group, 
which we are, as it were, among to-day, and which may 
be now recalling it, it doubtless never had any interest 
beyond the few months when, as a temporary expedient, 
it served them as the foundation and guaranty of their 
liberties. 

Thus have we stood in our communion face to face for 
a while with these builders of a people's fame ; and as 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 29 

the sun goes down and they separate for their homes, — 
Winslow, we may be sure, remaining for the niglit with 
Standish, for he must accompany him to Plymouth in tlie 
morning, — we can ponder on tlieir fidelity to the char- 
acteristics of race which they had brought with them 
from the Old World, giving never a thought to the ideas 
which have so perplexed the modern students of insti- 
tutional history as to the origin of the methods of local 
government with which they were to be so soon clothed, 
and falling into the ways of that little democrac}', the 
New England town, as easily as traditions are exempli- 
fied in conduct, and experience moulds what inheritance 
suggests. 

And so the night fell upon the little community. The 
reddened sky of the west had paled in the gloaming. 
The full orb of our satellite had risen above the beach, 
and the moon-glade trembled athwart the bay. Tread 
lightly with me as we enter the habitation of their sainted 
Elder. Pause with me as we see him at his solitary 
devotion. The glimmer of the eastern herald quivers on 
the lifting waves of his thin and silvered locks, as the 
gentle air from the tide enters the window of his 
chamber. Governor Bradford, his most reverent dis- 
ciple, has told us of the singular felicity of invocation 
which belonged to this pious man ; and I seem to catch 
the cadence, far off and musical, of that tremulous 
voice, — 

Father, near to all thy creatures, 

Howe'er distant is their lot, 
"With thy vesture falling round us 

And thy mercies failing not, — 



30 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

In our exile have we planted 

Precious seed upon this soil, 
And are waiting for the harvests 

To be garnered for our toil ; 
In our living are our ei'osses 

Kneaded by thee like to leaven, 
For we know that we are pilgrhns. 

And our dearest country, heaven ! 

Give this people, as thy chosen, 

What of chastisement they need. 
That for thera thy gentle finger 

Stanch their bruises as they bleed ; 
May their best endeavor prosper 

As they buckle for the fight, 
If they move along the pathway 

On the stepping-stones of right. 

Let not all the noonday visions 

Which their proud ambitions form. 
With the hopes of coming glories 

Which on eager spirits swarm, 
Make them heedless, as they wander, 

Of thy never-erring grace, 
Of thy hand that e'er sustaineth 

In the lifting of a race, — 
Make them heedless of the glory 

Of the Lord and all his hosts. 
Till they barter Zion's mountain 

For the littleness of boasts. 

Grant them solace in this midnight, 
Groping for thy garment's hem, 

Watching in Orion's glory 
For Jehovah's diadem ! 



AJSrmVERSAR Y OF D UXB lilt Y. SI 

Brillitiutly rose the siui on the next morning. Standish 
and his guest were early astir, and as they stood on the 
bank above the tide the two formed a picturesque group. 
Winslow, despite the cloak and the peaked hat and the 
matchlock upon which he leaned, had something of 
the air of the courtly gentleman, as we see it in that 
portrait which hangs to-day in Pilgrim Ilall, — the only 
indisputable likeness which has come down to us of a 
"Mayflower" pilgrim. Standish wore his leathern 
doublet, his broad band athwart his breast sustaining 
that sword of the Oriental inscription along its blade 
which has puzzled modern scholars, his hose above his 
buckled shoes disclosing the ribbed muscle of his calf. 
He handled nervously the fowling-piece, which the 
inventory at his death shows us was found among his 
effects, and which came easily to his shoulder as he 
sighted a flock of dipping crows among his young corn. 
The harried birds rose flapping, and flecked the sky as 
they surged away to the tall clump of whitewood trees 
which gave the name of Eagle's Nest to the vicinity of 
Elder Brewster's homestead, and some of whose gaunt 
and bleached trunks I remember to have heard in my 
youth old people say that they recalled. Coming along 
the lower slope of the hill three persons approached. 
Two of them were Thomas Prince, who lived within 
sight, and Timothy Hatherly, who had come from 
Scituate, both knowing they could find passage in the 
Captain's boat. 

Here then these four with Collier, — who lived also 
within sight, but was debarred coming, — constituted the 
larger part of the Court which was this day to decide 
important questions for the little colony in Plymouth, 
where the Governor and John Jenney, the other assistant, 
were expecting their coming. Hobamok, the Indian who 



32 TWO HUNbRED AND FlFTl£!TiI 

for sixteen years had been an attendant upon Standish 
and a companion in Iiis wanderings, joined the group, as 
he carried the head of a wolf which he had recently 
killed, and which he was taking to Plymouth to claim his 
reward of five bushels of corn. The magistrates entered 
the boat, Hobamok pushed at the prow, there was a pro- 
longed grating of the keel, and as the little craft slid 
off into deeper water the sail was hoisted, and in the 
fresh southerly breeze she bore away towards the channel 
over against Clark's Island. On its welcome shore two 
at least of this little company had landed from the 
" Mayflow^er's " shallop on that fearful night in 
December, 1620 ; when, entering by the Gurnet's nose 
in a driving suow-storm, they barely succeeded in bring- 
ing their reeling boat under the lea of this island, where 
they passed two da^^s and held their first religious 
service. Standish and Winslow might well remember 
the explorations of the next day, when they discovered 
that they were on an island. They could tell the others 
how they had recourse to Smith's map to see where they 
were. Before they left the "Mayflower," then lying in 
Cape Cod harbor, that map had told them how over 
against them on the mainland was a harbor with a con- 
siderable island in it, since Smith had so drawn it, and 
Prince Charles had called the spot Plymouth. The 
name could but have reminded them of the Devonshire 
Plymouth, the last English port they had left. But 
Smith, as we now know, had not made the only map of 
the harbor which had been engraved before this. There 
is no likelihood, however, that the Pilgrims ever knew 
any other. Hobamok may well have remembered Smith's 
visit, and that of Dermer, who only the year before the 
Pilgrims came had been in the harbor to find that 
between Smith's visit and his — an interval of five 



V 




X 
en 

< 

h 
CO 

UJ 

X 
h 

o 

:i: 
o 

D 

o 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 33 

years — a plague had swept off, hardly without au excep- 
tion, the native villages which were scattered around the 
bay. Dermer had brought back to his native woods 
Hobamok's old rival for the good-will of the English, 
Squanto, who had ])een kidnapped by one of Smith's 
captains, and had had a little experience of civilized life 
in Europe in the mean time, and had acquired some 
knowledge of English, which gave him at first a certain 
advantage over Hobamok. 

The other ma[) to which I refer was Champlaiu's, 
which he made on a visit in 1G05, quite within the 
memory of Hobamok ; but the Pilgrims would probably 
have been as much surprised as their Indian friend to 
learn that while they were in Leyden a map of their 
harbor had been issued in Paris, in 1613, — not very 
accurate to be sure, but still as near the truth as the 
explorer's maps of that time were likely to be. 

We may imagine our Captain's boat long before noon 
making her way where the deepest water lies, and bump- 
ing her stem against the very rock on which this same 
exploring party, whom we have thought of on yonder 
island, had landed, when on Monday after their Sab- 
bath's rest they touched for the first time the mainland 
of the harbor. It is altogether improbable that Standish 
and his comi)anions, landing there again as we may sup- 
pose on the 17th of June, 1G37, had any suspicions that 
the nameless boulder on which they stepped would 
become historic, — such at least is the inference which we 
may naturally draw from the absence of any mention of 
it by any of the Pilgrims themselves. As they passed 
from the landing up the way which now bears the name 
of their Leyden home, the memories of that first winter 
might throng upon them. Here on the left what recol- 
lections clung to the Common House, built in their first 



M TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

month ! How up this incline they clrngged the great 
guns from the " Mayflower" to mount them on the hill! 
Standish could tell how at one time he and Brewster, and 
four or five others, were the only ones left able to succor 
the many sick. Winslow could tell how he went to 
yonder hill across the brook to meet Massasoit. and 
to make through Squanto's help the treaty that brought 
peace between the English and the natives, and kept it 
for fifty years. Up the slope of the hill Standish could 
see the spot where he had first built liis cabin ; and close 
at hand was Aldeu's early home, before he had removed 
and built his house at the Bluefish, in Duxbury. Beyond 
and above stood the level-roofed fort with the cannon 
upon it, — not the same in appearance as it had been, for 
it had just been strengthened and enlarged, since there 
were rumors of war, as we shall soon see. 

The magistrates stopped at the door of the Governor's 
house, where two halberdiers stood without, making a 
suitable state for the little colony on its court day. 
Standish, we may be sure, got the salute which he 
claimed, as with the others he entered the house. It was 
not long before, in the Gc)vernor's study, — for Brad- 
ford's inventory shows that his books were not few, and 
his nephew tells us of the room which contained them, — 
the dignified little Court proceeded to " handle business," 
as the phrase with them went. It is one of the remark- 
able phases of Plymouth Colony, that with very little of 
the paraphernalia of a code of laws they set to work to 
develop a practical autonomy, which answered every 
purpose through the seventy years of the colony's inde- 
pendent existence. Judge Story refers to the brevity 
and the fewness of their laws ; and while allowing for the 
narrow limits of the population and the scant business of 
the colony as being in some measure the cause of it; he 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 35 

contends that this simplicity wjis in a large degree owing 
to their reliance upon the general princii»les of the 
English Common Law. 

"What the magistrates did during the meeting to which 
we have now brought them is a fair example of their 
ways in legislation, as done in this all-sufficient court of 
the Governor and five "justices of the peace of our 
sovereign lord the King and assistants in the govern- 
ment," — as the record reads. To understand the 
significance of all that was done at this meeting, while 
they make to this town the grant running after the 
fashion of the time, " to be holden of our sovereign lord 
the King, as of his manor and tenure of East Greenwich 
in the County of Kent," with a due reservation of gold 
and silver ore, — to understand this consummation, we 
must take for a moment a view of the somewhat broader 
relations of the cc'lony, and see how these contributed to 
hasten, or at least to make compatible with existing 
circumstances, the incorporation of Duxbury. 

We remember that as the Pilgrims began in their 
excursions by land and water to know the country better, 
they had gradually come to doubt whether on the whole 
they had been wise in the selection of a spot for their 
settlement. It was greatly in its favor, as they were 
aware, that the immediate country was without Indian 
occupants, since the plague had swept it so thoroughly ; 
and they could but rejoice in the friendly sentiments of 
the Wampanoags, their nearest native neighbors, and 
of Massasoit their chief. Still the soil they ploughed 
hardly gave the promise which they saw in it on that 
bright day when, after landing on the rock, their 
exploring party strayed back into the land and found 
"divers cornfields and little running brooks," which 
seemed inviting even under a winter's aspect. In the 



36 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

seventeen years during which their acquaintance with the 
country, then as now called New England, had been 
wideniug, there was no region into which they had 
pushed for exploration and trade that on the whole 
pleased them so much as the valley of the Connecticut. 
Not long after the settlement of Boston, seven years 
before this, a sachem of that country had come to the 
Massachusetts people and to Plymouth, "with an invi- 
tation to send colonists among his people. It turned 
out, indeed, that the Pcquods, who lived not far off from 
this sachem, were making inroads upon the tribes of 
the Connecticut, and that the latter were more in want 
of allies than of neighbors, though they did not profess 
it. The Massachusetts people declined the invitation ; 
but Winslow, then governor of Plymouth, had heard 
from some of his own adventurous people, who in their 
pinnace had been up the river to trade, of the goodness 
of the soil and of the otherwise pleasant look of the 
valley. The Plymouth governor was enough satisfied 
with the proposal to visit the country himself, whence he 
brought away favorable impressions. There were rumors 
at the time that the Dutch from Manhattan were intend- 
ing by occupation to enforce their right to the territory ; 
and to prevent this was held to be of so much conse- 
quence, that Winslow and Bradford had gone to Boston 
to urge a joint occupation by Plymouth and the Bay. 
Winthrop, however, pleaded various reasons in oppo- 
sition, among them poverty, — which in the light of the 
meagre treasury of the older colony was not very con- 
vincing. So the Plymouth people were left to organize 
the enterprise alone, and to send out a vessel laden with 
the frame of a house, and to set it up on the river as the 
beginning of a tradiiig-post. The Dutch, however, had 
anticipated them, and as the Plymouth vessel approached 



ANNIVER!<ARY OF DUXBUliY. 37 



the site of the modem Hartford, the Holhinders turned 
the cannon of theu' fort upon it ; l)ut tlicy hesitated to 
fire, as the little sloop pushed boldly by. At a place 
above, where is now the town of AVindsor, the adven- 
turers bought of the Indians a tract of land, and erecting 
their house they began trading for furs. There were 
later symptoms of animosity on the part of the Dutch, 
but it did not go to the length of violence ; and we know 
not how much the old-time relations of the two peoples 
in Leyden may have had to do with the forbearance. 

Already the success of the Windsor settlement had 
begun to turn the eyes of the Plymouth jjcople to the 
more inviting bottom lands of the Connecticut. We 
have seen how, because of the increase of their cattle 
and flocks, they had in search of pasturage made in the 
first place summer sojourns along the Dnxl)ury side 
of the bay, which were naturally soon converted into 
permanent abodes. By 1G32 it had become desirable 
for these distant worshippers to think of organizing a 
church for themselves, which was permitted under 
Brewster's paternal care ; I)ut the Court insisted that 
settlers so far distant from the protection of the 
Plymouth fort should be, every man of them, armed ; 
and in a short time their houses were palisaded, and a 
considerable defence of this nature was l)uilt across the 
entrance to what we know as the Nook. We find, in 
1632, Standish, Prince, Alden, and Jonathan Brewster 
signing au agreement to return to Plymouth in the 
winter. It was thus early with the formation of their 
church that Duxbury became the first offshoot from the 
Plymouth stock. The church at Scituate was the second, 
in 1634, though from the greater remoteness of that 
region it was given its civil independence a year earlier 
than Duxbury. 



38 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

I have referred to the apprehension which Bradford 
felt, that this scattering of the people miglit hazard the 
principles which had l)onnd them together, and which 
had so far governed them. Tliat many shared Brad- 
ford's distrust was evident from the growing conviction 
that the greater fertility of the Connecticut valley might 
support their population more compactly. So the Con- 
necticut experiment was closely watched for the chance 
it might offer of a general emigration from the more 
sterile region about Plymouth Bay. 

It soon became clear that there were causes which 
were to prevent the fulfilment of an}' such scheme. It 
became, iu 1635, plain that the Massachusetts people 
were conscious of having made a mistake in allowing 
Plymouth to gain a footing in that attractive region. 
Winthrop confesses it when he says that neither the 
Dutch nor even other English must be allowed to estab- 
lish themselves there. In the struggle which the spirit 
of this acknowledgment rendered inevitable, it was 
evident that the greater population of the Bay was equal 
to the same task which in our day the North undertook 
when they measured their strength with the South in the 
colonization of Kansas. When the Dorchester migra- 
tion, iu 1635, set towards the Connecticut the struggle 
was begun, and the migration under Hooker soon fol- 
lowed. The attack was reinforced when the new 
Connecticut patentees sent vessels up the river with 
other colonists. The Plymouth people could not mistake 
the warning which their agent, Jonathan Brevv'ster, a 
Duxbury man, sent to them, in July, 1635, that the 
new-comers were occupying the land all about the 
Plymouth trading-house, — land which Plymouth had 
bought of the natives, and had taken possession of in 
due form. Remonstrance was iu vain, both there by 



Anniversary of duxbury. 30 

their agents mid at Boston by their magistrates ; and in 
March, 163G, the Massachusetts people delegated [)o\vers 
for a year to magistrates appointed to govern tlieir new 
colony of Connecticut. 

Now for a moment look at what was doing in Plymouth 
and Duxbury, in this month of March, 1G3G. There had 
become so general an apprehension of the risk attending 
the scattering of settlers round the bay, — and the remedy 
would become more imperative in case the Connecticut 
lands should allure lai-ge numbers, — that the matter was 
referred to Standish and other leading men whether the 
Plymouth and Duxl)ury people should not abandon their 
present settlements and unite compactly at Jones River, 
or at Morton's Hole, as the region lying neighboring to 
the present roads from Duxbury to Kingston was called. 
The majority voted for Jones River, where Kingston 
now is, but we have no record that anything further was 
done. The reason seems to have been that the Con- 
necticut question was approaching an issue. Winslow 
had been sent to Boston to adjust the dispute ; but 
delays ensued, till finally Plymouth saw that the 
struggle was a hopeless one, and in May, 1637, Thomas 
Prince was empowered to make for a consideration a 
formal transfer of their Connecticut lands — with the 
reservation only of a sn^U portion lying about their 
trading-post — to an agent of the Connecticut })eople. 
"Thus," says Bradford, "the controversy was ended; 
but the unkindness was not so soon forgotten." Thus, 
too, now that the settlements about the bay were not to 
be depleted for the Connecticut migration, it became a 
necessity to give those on the Duxbury side the form of 
an incorporation. 

Bradford's reference to the lingering feeling of dis- 
trust which Massachusetts had forced upon the weaker 



40 TWO HXJNDMD and FIFTtEtlt 

colouy, had its miinifestatioii very soon iu the way in 
which Plymouth met the appeal of Wiuthrop to afford his 
people some help in the war which they quickly found the 
ambitious Pequods were bound to wage. It was not 
the first ground of affront which Plymouth had against 
the Bay Colony, and they gave its magistrates a pointed 
rejoinder. They reminded them of a few years before, 
when the French had dispossessed the Plymouth people 
of a trading-post on the Kennebec, how Massachusetts 
had refused to join out of common interest iu an attempt 
to recover it. They reminded them how they had virtu- 
ally dispossessed the Plj'mouth people of their lands on 
the Connecticut ; and as if remembering how "Winthrop 
had covered his refusal to join them in the Connecticut 
occupation by pleading poverty, the Plymouth magis- 
trates now found that the same excuse could stand them 
in as good a stead. 

But the interests of the two peoples were too much 
intertwined for any permanent estrangement to exist, 
especially as renewed letters from Massachusetts had 
shown that a common cause in defending the Narra- 
gansetts against the Pequods was becoming more and 
more a necessity. 

Thus it is that the first business done in this Court of 
the Plymouth magistrates whjph we are now watching, 
was action taken on a further urgent request of Winth- 
rop. Accordingly, the record tells us that a force of 
thirty men, with as many others as may be needed to 
manage the barque, shall be sent under Lieutenant 
William Holmes — the same who sailed his sloop past the 
cannon of the Dutch — to assist those of Massachusetts 
and Connecticut in their wars against the Pequods iu 
"revenge for the innocent blood of the English, which 
they have barbarously shed." They also chose by lot 




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ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y, 41 

Mr. Thomas Prince to accompany the party as counsellor 
to the Lieutenant. There is much else spread upon the 
record, of the necessary provisions which the expedition 
required, including a list of such as volunteered for tho 
service. It was significant of the years that had passed 
since the "Mayflower" touched these shores, that 
among these willing soldiers appear the names of the 
child Henry Sampson, now a man of twenty-three, and 
Peregrine White, now a stripling of seventeen, who had 
been born in Cape Cod harbor. It is enough to add that 
a quick stroke mainly on the part of Connecticut put an 
end to the war, the news whereof arrived in time to 
prevent the starting of the Plymouth quota. 

We may imagine for the next business the whole Btory 
of these recent events to be gone over in the discussion 
which followed the introduction, very likely by Standish, 
of the order for the incorporation of the new town. 
There may have been an enlargement upon the justice 
and necessity of the case, upon the passing of the 
opportunity which might have rendered necessary 
the drawing of the scattered population closer together, 
if the Connecticut migration had been consummated ; 
but though Bradford as governor made the necessary 
minutes of the meeting, he has not preserved to us more 
than the vote, which we are this day assembled to 
commemorate. "It is enacted by the Court that 
Ducksborrow shall become a towueship, and unite 
together for their better securitie, and to have the 
pv''eledges of a towue ; onely their bounds and limmits 
shalbe sett and appoyuted by the next Court." 

And so Ddxbury became one of those little democ- 
racies which have made New England what she is ; for 



42 TWO hundr:ed and fiftiets 



her failings as well as virtues can be traced to them. 
Such as it is, citizens of Dusbury, one of these little 
democracies is your heritage. You have met to-day to 
authenticate your title to it, and to pass it on to coming 
generations. 



ANNIVEBSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 43 



The following poem, written for the occa- 
sion by Miss Lucia A. Bradford, of Duxbury, 
was then read by Rev. Mr. Knapp: 

OCCASIONAL POEM. 



The memories of to-day, 
They take us far away 

To times long gone ; 
To times of toil and care, 
To scenes where joys were rare, 
To times of scanty fare, 

To us unknown. 

But here were homes more true, 
Miles Standish, far to you. 

Than England's halls ; 
Though Winter's storms were drear, 
Though savage foes were near, 
Yet there was Pilgrim cheer 

Within your walls. 

The Mayflower's perfumed air 
Bore up the Pilgrim's prayer 

For labors blest ; 
In Autumn's chilly dew, 
Our flower of heavenly blue, 
Rose Standish, bloomed for you 

In peace and rest. 



44 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

The blue birds iu the Spring 
Sang their sweet welcoming, 

To rouse and charm ; 
Where first John Alden came ; 
Their haunt is still the same, 
Still bears its Pilgrim name, 

"John Alden's Farm." 

Here rose the precious fame 
Of Elder Brewster's name 

And works of love ; 
From want and woe to save, 
And the blest hopes he gave, 
Of rest beyond the grave. 

In Heaven above. 



NoTB. — The Fringed Gentian blooms about the Standish Place in 
October. It is well known that the Bluebird returns, like the 
Robin, to its old haunts from year to year, and the same nest is 
occupied for generations. 



ANNIVEBSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 45 



DINNER. 



After the exercises in the smaller tent were 
closed, a procession was formed for the dining 
tent, which was a much larger one and had a 
seating capacity of eight hundred. The two 
tents were separated by only a small space, 
and both were pitched on what is called 
the " Baker " field, within the grounds of 
Mr. Geor2:e W. Wricrht. All the seats were 
at once filled, and the varied colors of 
Odd Fellow and Grand Army uniforms, 
blended with those of ladies' dresses and the 
more sober hues of masculine garb, made 
the scene a brilliant one. 

On the rio-ht of the President sat his 
Excellency, Oliver Ames, the Governor of the 
Commonwealth, Hon. George B. Loring, Hon. 
Charles Levi Woodbury, Hon. William T. 
Davis, Hon. Stephen M. Allen, Hon. Jonathan 
Bourne, Hon. Matthew H. Gushing, L. Miles 
Standish, Esq., Hon. Mellen Chamberlain and 
Charles Deane, Esq. On his left were Justin 
Winsor, Esq., the Orator of the Day, Hon. John 
D. Long, Hon. H. J. Boardman, Hon. Charles 



46 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

J. Noyes, Hon. Henry B. Peirce, Adjutant- 
General Samuel Dalton, Col. Wild of the staff, 
Col. Abbott of the staff, Rev. George M. 
Bodge and John Alden, Esq. 

A blessing was asked by Rev. George M. 
Bodge; and after the excellent dinner served 
by Harvey Blunt, of Boston, had been disposed 
of, William J. Wright, Esq., the President of 
the Day, in a speech necessarily brief, on 
account of the early departure of the trains, 
agrain welcomed the sons and daus^hters of 
Duxbury to the festivities of the two hundred 
and fiftieth anniversary of its birth. He then 
announced as the first sentiment : 

" The Commonwealth of Massachusetts — 
Great in all that makes a great state ; her 
history goes back from son to sire until the 
foundations of her glory, the virtues of the 
Pilgrims, are reached." 

SPEECH OF GOVERNOR AMES. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

I bring you the most cordial congratulations of the 
Commonwealth, that you have joined the ranks of those 
communities which have reached the venerable age of 
two hundred and fifty years. I need but refer in general 
terms to those elements which have made this town what 
it is, and have caused its inlluence to be felt far beyond 



ANmVJElESARY OF DUXBURY. 4l 

its borders. Your nncGstors, the founders of this place, 
were of the Pilgrim stock. They were bold and brave to 
adventure and strong and patient to endure, and such 
their descendants have ever been. Go where j^ou may 
in this broad land, you will find traces of their blood and 
evidences that the character inherent iu them still exerts 
a powerful influence on the affairs of the time. 

During the period from 1G20 to 1G40, twenty-one 
thousand men came to New England. They were men 
of intelligence and learning, were possessed of property, 
and had large ex[)erience in atfairs. They brought with 
them £500,000, which was equnl to ^2,500,000 of our 
money, and at that time equivalent to S15,000,000 of 
our present currency. They brought with them, too, 
and established here all the great reforms which were 
only secured in England by two revolutions, one of 
which was consummated by the king losing his head 
upon the block. In the other the king lost his crown. 
When the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth, there 
were not seven million people who spoke the English 
language, nor were there seventeen millions who spoke 
it at the commencement of the American revolution. 
To-day it is spoken b}^ over one hundred millions of 
people, and it would seem that it and those institutions 
of which we are so proud are in the near future, as the 
age of the world is reckoned, to become universal. 

To-day this quiet nook of the New England coast 
seems but a small place when compared with the rest of 
this broad land ; but we know that locality is accidental, 
and it matters little where such a community is located. 
It has been, it now is, a nursery of manly men and fair 
women. Its industries may be primitive in character 
and limited iu extent ; but it is important that the old 
principles of uprightness of conduct, of honesty of 



48 Two HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

purpose, of righteous living, should be nourished and 
exemplified as they are fostered and shown forth in these 
little retired places, in which was planted a germ which 
has developed into a mighty growth, and which cannot 
die unless the Nation dies also. 

At the risk of seeming to glorify myself, I will add 
that 1 have a personal interest in the celebration of the 
two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of your town. I, 
too, am of Puritan stock, and I glory in my ancestry. 
Ruth Ames, from whom I am descended, daughter of 
the great Franeker professor, William Ames, came to 
this country in 1637 to marry Rev. Edward Angier. 
Thus, you see, this is my two hundred and fiftieth anni- 
versary, also. A year later, in 1638, William Ames, 
from whom also I am directly descended, came to this 
country and settled in Braintree. May we not assume, 
with almost absolute certainty, that they knew Standish, 
and Aldeu, and Bradford, and Brewster, and Priscilla 
Mullens, and all the other Pilgrims whose names and 
memories have come down to us as precious heirlooms? 

It has become too much the custom to belittle the 
fame of our forefathers. What if they were crabbed in 
temper and soured in disposition? The times in which 
they lived were "out of joint," and they, in spite of 
all their shortcomings, when measured by the standards 
of to-day, were far in advance of their time. Let us 
look more to their excellencies and less to their faults ; 
let us consider not what were their defects, but what 
were their virtues, remembering that we may find in 
their conduct much to admire and to imitate, and that if 
we emulate their virtues we shall be both better citizens 
and better men. 



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AN'NtVERSAE Y OF D UXB XJR Y. 40 



The next sentiment, " The Orator of the 
Day," called up Justin Winsor, Esq., who made 
an exceedingly appropriate response by exhib- 
iting to the audience and presenting to the 
Pilgrim Society of Plymouth, through its Pres- 
ident, Hon. John D. Long, a well preserved 
copy of a translation of Seneca, printed in 
1614, which once belonged to Elder William 
Brewster, and containing his autograph. 

Besides the autograph of Elder Brewster, 
the book contains those of William Peirce, the 
captain of the ship " Ann," which came to 
Plymouth in 1623, of whom the Elder bought 
it, and of Alexander Standish, son of Miles, 
who bought it of Love Brewster, the son of the 
Elder. 

The President then gave as the next sent- 
ment : 

"The Citizen Soldier of the Union — 
Fearless in defending his country's flag, under 
the white wings of peace his record in civil 
life has proved him worthy of the country he 
saved." 



'50 TWO HUNDRED AND PiFTIETH 



SPEECH OF HON. HENRY B. PEIRCE. 



Mr. President : 

A modest Bostonian said to his friend in Chicago, who 
asked why it was that there were so few Trinitarians in 
Boston and so many Unitarians — that he could make no 
explanation except that, having been born in Boston, 
there didn't really appear to be any reason why one 
should be born again. Now, I was born in Duxbury ; 
and, after all the good things that have been said of 
Duxbury to-day, all of which I cordially endorse, there 
does not really appear to be any reason why 1 should be 
born again. 

Patsy DoUiver was the worst boy in school, and was 
called up for punishment so frequently that he came to 
take it as a matter of course that he was the guilty party 
whenever the teacher sought to fix the responsibility for 
any misdemeanor. One day the teacher indulged in a 
series of general questions to the whole school, and 
began with "Who discovered America?" Patsy was 
not paying particular attention — he never was — but 
surmised that mischief had been done and that cas- 
tigation awaited him ; so rising from his seat, he 
shambled down the aisle with his hand to his eyes to 
conceal his tears, and made answer: "Please, sir, I did, 
but I won't do it again." 

Mr. President, if you should propound the question 
to-day, "Who was born in Duxbury?" I should rise 
with pride — instead of following Patsy's example — 
and answer, " Please, sir, I was ; and if I am to be born 
again, I prefer to be born right here in old Duxbury," 
notwithstanding the fact that only the first four years of 



ANNIVERSARY OF DUXBURY. 51 

my life were spent here, my father having moved away — 
against my wishes — at the expiration of that time; 
(whether because he feared tliat 1 might in after life 
reflect discredit upon the town, or for some other reason, 
I know not). He was born in Scituate, and all before 
him back to Capt. Michael Peirce, wlio settled there in 
1G70, and who commanding a company of Scituate men, 
was killed, together with nearly every meml)er of his 
company, in a battle with the Indians at Attleboro Gore, 
near Pawtucket, R. I., in 1676. The historian records 
that " they fought with a bravery worthy of Thermopy- 
lae," and since that time no mcml)er of the family has 
ever felt called upon to perform any special deeds of 
valor. Seriously, my friends, it is something to have 
sprung from the loins of the Old Colony, something which 
should nerve every descendant to bring out the best there 
is in him, in his daily life, whether his pathway be in the 
humbler or in the higher walks. 

Little we realize of the sacrifices which our ancestors 
made for principle, or of the trials through which they 
passed, but they laid the foundations of the best govern- 
ment the world has ever known, and they did it all with- 
out hope of, or desire for, any reward other than the 
approval of their own consciences, and this brings me to 
the sentiment with which you have honored me, Mr. Pres- 
ident, "The citizen soldier of the Union." It was a 
proud privilege in which we, "the boys of '61," partici- 
pated, that of defending a country so nobly planned and 
reared. Satisfaction enough that we were permitted to 
share in the grand triumph at last. Pay enough, the 
consciousness that we did our whole duty in the position 
to which we were assigned, so that every comrade except 
he be disabled or in need, — and for such too much can- 
not be done,— should hesitate before alloying liis services 



52 



TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 



to his country with claim for other recognition, whether 
it be in the form of a pension for service merely, or 
exemption from the application of any law of the land ; 
in so doing he shall prove worthy of the country he saved, 
as thoroughly as he proved long ago that he was fearless 
in defending its flag. 

Go with me, as I close, back to that olden time, when 
the fires of liberty burned as brightly as now, and listen 
to the quaint words of the Pilgrim preacher, and the 
laconic response of the Pilgrim soldier. " Know ye, 
brethren, what in this land smelleth sweetest to me?" 
said Elder Brewster. " It is the smell of liberty. This 
soil is free — no man hath claim thereon. In Old England 
a poor man may starve right on his mother's bosom ; 
there may be stores of fish in river, and bird and fowl 
flying and deer running by, and yet, though a man's 
children be crying for bread, and he catch a fish or snare 
a bird, he shall be snatched up and hanged. This is a 
sore evil in Old England ; but we will make a country 
here for the poor to dwell in, where the wild fruits and 
fish and fowl shall be the inheritance of whoever will have 
them ; and every man shall have his portion of our 
good mother earth, with no lords and no bishops to harry 
and restrain, and worry with taxes and tythes. " -^ 
"Amen, brother," said Miles Standish, "and thereto I 
give my best endeavors with sword and buckler." 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 53 



At the request of the President, the follow- 
ing ode, written for the occasion by Mrs. 
C. W. Bradford, was then read by Rev. George 

M. Bodge : 

ORIGINAL ODE. 



Two centuries and a half have rolled 

On their eventful way, 
Since June's bright morning ushered in 

Our " Old Town's " natal day. 

Born in the purple of the hills, 

A lineage high she boasts ; 
Her coronet, the rainbow's arch, 

Her sponsor. Lord of Hosts. 

Bending above her cradle bed, 

Heaven's canopy of blue ; 
In reverent silence, night presents 

Her caudle-cup of dew. 

A royal heritage she owns, 
Fresh from the Maker's hand ; 

Her birthright on its sacred scroll 
Claims — Freedom on sea and land. 

August, serene, she sits to-day 

Upon her emerald throne. 
Wearing no impress of the storms 

Her old, old years have known. 

No trace of age is on her brow, 
The heaving earth rolls on ; 

But each New Year her brave old face 
Grows fairer in the sun. 



54 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 



Nursed in kind Nature's lap, her sons 
Grew sturdy, strong and brave ; 

Strong to throw off the galling yoke 
Thrown o'er her, 'cross the wave. 

They kept the Sabbath, kept the Fast, 

With a religious awe ; 
Reaching in faith the Promised Land, 

Which Israel's leader saw. 

Where'er we turn, some emblem still 
Of those stern men we see, 

Upon the guidon of whose hearts 
Was written " Liberty." 

O ! Mother of a race like these — 

And is thy fame no more 
A memory of the men who lived 

And died along thy shore? 

No ! When again the " Fiery Cross " 
Sped onward through the land, 

Her ancient blood, untainted still, 
Sprang up to grasp the brand. 

The loyal stream runs clear and pure 
Beneath the heart's firm shield ; 

Witness their untried valor, 
On many a stricken field. 

Her wanderers in other climes. 
In memories, strong as death. 

Long through her forest paths to roam, 
To scent the Mayflower's breath. 



ANNIVERSARY OF DUXBURt. 5B 

The song of Peace is swelling now 

O'er rock, o'er hill and tree, 
To where the sailor's " Bethel-light 

Shines Eastward o'er the sea." 

Then fling aloft her stainless flag, 

Let every starry fold 
Float outward o'er her swaying pines, 

As in the "Days of Old." 

Immortal Mother ! who hast fed 

Her children on her breast. 
In love immortal ever waits 

To fold them in her rest. 

The next sentiment, in honor of the Presi- 
dent of the United States, had been postponed 
to this period of the dinner, in order that the 
Governor and his party might take an early 
train to Boston. It was as follows : 

"The President of the United States — 
Ruling under the law, he is a fitting repre- 
sentative of a free people, which yields him 
willing homage and unfaltering support in the 
execution of his duty.'' 

Hon. John D. Long was called on to respond 
for the President. 



56 fWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 



SPEECH OF HON. JOHN D. LONG. 



Mr. President : 

I cannot respond to your call better than by reading 
the following letter which you have just handed me : 

Executive Mansion, ] 

Washington, June 12, 1887. | 
AYiixiAM J. Wright, Esq., Chairman, etc. : 

My Dear Sir — I find awaiting me, on my return from 
a short vacation, your kind invitation to attend the two 
hundred and fiftieth anniversary celebration of the incor- 
poration of the town of Duxbury, on the 17th instant. 
This occasion cannot fail to be an interesting one to all 
immediately concerned, and they are to be congratulated 
upon the fact that their locality represents so much of 
American history, and permits them so impressively to 
note the growth and prosperity of our history. It would 
give me great pleasure to join you in your celebration, 
but other engagements and my official duties here will 
prevent my attendance. 

Thanking the committee for kindly remembering me at 
this time, I am yours, very truly, 

GROVER CLEVELAND. 

I have no doubt the President regrets that he is not 
here, for two reasons : first, because he would enjoy the 
occasion ; and second, because, like our own Governor, 
he makes better speeches than anybody can make for 
him. He is of New England descent, and his best 
qualities are those he derives from his Puritan ancestors. 
Though some of us differ from him in politics, we recog- 
nize that he has the courage of his convictions. We 
certainly approve his countermanding his recent order 
concerning the rebel battle flags, — for, had it stood, it 




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AN'NIVEESAR Y op D UXB UR r. 57 

would have recognized the Southern Confederacy by 
restoring to it the very insignia of its treasonable 
organization. 

As President of the Pilgrim Society, — an office which, 
let me say, would have been much better filled by the 
appointment of some antiquarian of scholarly research, 
like Mr. W. T. Davis, who is here, — I thank Mr. 
Justin Winsor, the eloquent orator of the day, for the 
book he has just presented to the Society, which is a 
translation of Seneca (1614) and which was formerly 
the property of Elder William Brewster. 

I am glad to be with you this day, and to pay my 
tribute to the soil made sacred by the feet of Staudish, 
Aldeu and Brewster. Duxbury has beeu a patriotic town 
from the beginning. In the Revolutionary War, and in 
the recent sad Civil War, her record is a bright one. 
Nor is there a more significant feature in this day's 
exercises than the presence of your Grand Army Posts, 
who teach the coming generation the lesson of the 
citizen soldier's patriotism. All honor to the veterans 
who, marching in your procession, stand for the grand 
sentiment of nationality — of charity, fraternity and 
loyalty. 

These are good days that take us back to the spirit 
of the Fathers. It is a good thing to learn their 
lesson of individuality — of every man's making the 
most of himself rather than making the least of every- 
body else ; of the value of personal character, — sure 
that if each man, whether rich or poor, attend to his own 
conduct and do his own duty, as a citizen and a man, 
the general order of society will take care of itself. 



58 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

The President then gave as a sentiment : 

"The Legislature — Under the free choice 
of a free people, it voices pubHc opinion, and 
by the fidelity and publicity of its acts ensures 
public liberty." 

SPEECH OF HON. H. J. BOARDMAN, 
(President of the Massachusetts Senate.) 



The Legislature of 1887 is closed. Its records are 
complete. The wisdom of its acts must be determined 
by the people at large. The best test that can be 
applied to them, is the test of experience. This can 
only be done in the future. I may therefore, without 
impropriety, omit a discussion of matters which more 
properly will be conducted by others and elsewhere. I 
have confidence that the legislative measures of the 
current year will, in an important sense, voice public 
sentiment and furnish additional safeguards to public 
liberty. 

When I received your invitation to be present on this 
occasion, I doubted the propriety of accepting it, I felt 
painfully ignorant of the history of this old town. I 
could recall but two facts concerning it. One was, it 
was celebrated for its marvellously fine shell-fish, and the 
other, my friend Messenger Hollis lives here. In my 
despair, I applied to a trustworthy gentleman of Boston, 
a native of this town, and asked him what Duxbury is 
celebrated for. He replied, "for beautiful women." 
Since he is an excellent judge, I had no hesitation in 
adding this as a third fact, for are not brave men 
naturally associated with beautiful women, because 
" none but the brave deserve the fair? " Were it other- 



ANNIVERSARY OF DUXBURY. oO 

wise, they would be recreant to the memory of those 
illustrious ancestors, whose virtues have so vividly and 
so justly been portrayed by the orator of tlie day, — 
those ancestors whose industr}', stern courage and 
Christian fortitude have inspired the most eloquent words 
of Massachusetts' great orators and become famous in 
story and song around the world. With just })ride can 
you to-day reverently reflect upon the lives of those men, 
who have so long slept the last sleep in the earth beneath 
your feet, and rejoice in the unequalled birthright that 
came to you from them. 

Your soil, so far as I have examined it, does not 
impress one with its richness. It has too much sand to 
be easily mistaken for western prairie. Your forests do 
not tower sufficiently to awaken jealousy in the breasts 
of Californians, nor occasion fear that the reputation of 
their " big trees " will be overshadowed. If you " tickle 
the earth with a hoe," instead of "laughing with a har- 
vest," I fear the resulting mirth is forced and artificial. 
But you have compensations. If you have sand in 
your soil, you have also sand in your men. You have 
health and vigor in your air, that bring no unnatural 
roses to your cheeks, and you have that vitality which 
the winds and waves of the Atlantic waft to your coast. 
While many of you "hold the fort" and guard the 
hearthstones and firesides of the old town, others reared 
here, as in a nursery, have spanned the continent with 
their enterprise, and carried the energies, that first woke 
to life here, into comprehensive usefulness in business 
and professional life. How dear to those who have 
gone, as well as to those who remain, are the scenes you 
behold around you now ! P^very familiar homestead, nay, 
each familiar stone and tree come back from the " long 
ago" with their story of *' auk] lang syne." The 



60 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

arduous struggles Nature has here imposed on you, you 
welcome. Gladly you say : 

"Leave to the soft Campanian his baths and his perfumes, 
Leave to the sordid race of Tyre their dye-vats and their 

looms ; 
Leave to the sons of Carthage the rudder and the oar. 
Leave to the Greek his marble nymphs and scrolls of 

wordy lore." 

The difficulties, the poverty, it may be, which you have 
encountered, have developed you and made you strong. 
Out of this sterile soil have sprung the highest virtues of 
the race. It has placed its mint and superscription upon 
the character and life of the people from ocean to ocean. 
The task involving most difficulty or anxiety most attracts 
and interests us. The object we attain through toil and 
tribulation kindles an attachment and enthusiasm, not 
equalled by purposes achieved without effort. Therefore, 
the sharp economy, the unremitting labor, extorted from 
you by absence of natural advantages, do not render the 
place of your birth or adoption distasteful to you. It 
holds for you a stronger tie than more favored localities 
do for their inhabitants. Beautifully has an English 
poet illustrated the love of the Swiss for their bleak 
Alpine homes : 

" Dear is that shed, to which his soul conforms, 
And dear that hill, that lifts him to the storms ; 
And as a child, whom scaring sounds molest. 
Clings close and closer to his mother's breast, 
So the loud torrent and whirlwind's roar 
But bind him to his native mountains more." 

Eomage and loyalty to birthplace and ancestral home 
are conspicuous in the character of great men. Daniel 
Webster was wont to make an annual visit to the old 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 61 

log cabin, which his father raised amidst the snow drifts 
of New Hampshire. Mncauley relates that Warren 
Hastings, when a boy of seven years, on a bright 
snmmer day, lying on the bank of the rivulet which 
llowed through the old domain of his ancestors, which 
had passed into the hands of strangers, formed a scheme 
to recover the estate of his fathers. "He would be 
Hastings of Daylesford." This purpose formed in 
infancy and poverty he never forsook. "When under 
a tropical sun he ruled fifty millions of Asiatics, his 
hopes, amidst all the cares of war, finance and legis- 
lation, still pointed to Daylesford. And when his long, 
public life had closed forever, it was to Doylesford he 
retired to die." 

Men of Duxbury : Your ancestors who came across 
the sea were of a race who dwelt in a country, the pos- 
session of which was due to a valor born of patriotic 
devotion to it, — a land which, through centuries of 
struggle and warfare, they successfully held. Your 
forefathers transferred their inherited loyalty here, and 
you do well to celebrate this day in a place consecrated 
by Puritan toil and Puritan virtue — a day ever mem- 
orable as the anniversary of that other day, when 
American valor was vindicated at Bunker Hill. And 
while the wildest imagination cannot fitly portray the 
growth and development ol our country, — its magnifi- 
cent old cities and the multitude of new ones that will 
spring into being, the population of teeming millions, — 
two hundred and fifty years from to-day, yet the simple 
annals of this old town will not then be forgotten nor 
overlooked. Doubt not but your descendants will, two 
hundred and fifty years hence, gather by Duxl)ury Bay 
and pay their reverent tribute to the memory of the 
brave men and beautiful women of the ancient town of 
Duxbury. 



62 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

The next sentiment was : 

" Myles Standish — The right arm of the 
Pilgrims ; a better soldier than churchman, he 
proved the safety of the cotony, and of men 
who were better churchmen than soldiers." 

Hon. Charles J. Noyes, Speaker of the 
Massachusetts House of Representatives, re- 
sponded. 

SPEECH OF HON. CHARLES J. NOYES. 



Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen ok Duxbury : 
It is with no small degree of embarrassment th^t I rise 
to speak to the sentiment to which I am asked to respond. 
It is my usual lot to dine and speak in the name and on 
behalf of the House of Representatives, for whom I have 
often eaten, when I imagine they would have preferred 
to have done that service for themselves. But I should 
do violence to my feelings on this occasion, if I did not 
say a word in answer to the sentiment proposed. Myles 
Standish stands in your history as the type of noble 
manhood and good citizenship, from whose example we 
may all draw a lesson to-day. The sterling men of 
that time realized the great work they liad t6 accom- 
plish, and set about it with a devotion we may well 
imitate. They felt they had the solemn and responsible 
task of building human government, founded on high 
principles and constructed to endure for a long time. 
They, we are sometimes told, endured hardships and 
privations, — liad nothing of enjoyments and none of 
the modern improvements of our age. I cannot so con- 



ANitlVEllSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 0.^ 

sider them. They gave uo thought to such themes ; they 
found no time for idle sport ; they were engrossed in the 
graver cares and nobler plans of life. They gave them- 
selves wholly to the higher duties of citizenship, to caring 
for interests which were to affect those who should inherit 
the blessings they left after them ; and so they did not 
feel the want of luxury and comforts to be a deprivation. 
And this celebration of their deeds, this recalling their 
memories, as we gather at this table and participate in 
these services to-day, will, indeed, be a benefit to us, if 
thereby the noble lesson of their example is impressed 
upon us, and we go hence to do and live like them. Let 
us take to our memory and hearts the solemn admonition 
of this scene, and lifting ourselves above and beyond the 
narrow ruts of our common daily pursuits and selfish 
purposes and ambitions, do what lies in our power to 
help forward the upbuilding and ennobling of our grand 
old Commonwealth. 80 shall we, in our day and gener- 
ation, act well our part, as did these noble men of old, 
and leave behind us memories worthy of a true, free and 
patriotic people ; and the day we now celebrate will be 
blessed in all time to come. 

The President then announced the next 
sentiment : 

" The Town of Duxbury — The memory of 
the faithful and self-reliant men who laid their 
hearth stones in this town two hundred and 
fifty years ago has not been effaced from our 
hearts. Their dwellings have crumbled, but 
the work they did for civil liberty is witnessed 
in the broad spread of the institutions of lib- 



B4 two Hundred and fiPtIeth 

erty, self-government, education and humanity. 
Though born on a narrow island their enter- 
prise, and that of men like them, has given a 
continent to their descendants." 

Hon. George B. Loring, of Salem, whose 
father, the Rev. Bailey Loring, of Andover, was 
a native of Duxbury, was called on to respond. 

SPEECH OF HON. GEO. B. LORING. 



Ladies and Gentlemen : 

The elaborate and appropriate toast to which I am 
called upon to respond, brings us to a warm and grateful 
recognition of the spot on which we have assembled. I 
have listened with great admiration to the rehearsal of the 
record of Duxbury, as a part of a great historic com- 
munity, — to the philosophical thought which her annals 
have inspired, — to the honorable distinction she holds as 
the home of those whose lives form a vital portion of the 
social and civil work performed on this continent, — to 
the heroic age with which her name is so proudly con- 
nected. I have been brought to a true appreciation of 
the fact that Miles Standish stands as a type of what 
an American soldier may be, and began in our history 
a line of military heroes, which now boasts of the 
deeds of the Revolution and the heroism and valor which 
saved the Union in the civil war. I have realized how 
noble an example of the good citizen, the wise magis- 
trate, the pious christian, John Alden, presents to all 
who study our early Colonial history, and to all who 
would serve their state and town as he did. The toil and 



ANNIVERSARY OF DVXBUHY. 6S 

trial and devotion of tliat band of devoted men and women 
who founded here a church without a bisliop and a state 
witliout a Iving, have been brought before me with new 
enthusiasm, and have filled my mind with new delight, 
my heart with new love. Tlie charming discourse to 
which we have listened this morning from the historian 
of the town — a discourse 1 am free to say as admirable 
as any work of that kind I myself have ever performed 
in my long and repeated service as centennial orator, — 
has taught me once more the value of great and noble qual- 
ities in establishing the worth and renown of a commu- 
nity, and how superior to material success are the influ- 
ences of courage and honor, and self-sacrifice, and devo- 
tion. The historic Duxbur}' we have been called on to 
admire, and her name and fame, have won our respect 
and esteem, as we love and honor the country in which 
we live. And this is the Duxbury which belongs to the 
Commonwealth and the Republic ; the Duxbury of Puri- 
tan renown : the Duxbury of great commercial enterprise ; 
the Duxbury whose young men rushed to the war for 
independence, and rallied to defend the Union against 
the arm of the destroyer ; the Duxbury of great faith 
and patriotic service. 

For myself, however, Mr. President, this town has 
another side, to which I proudly turn with the same 
emotions as attend the memory of our childhood's home. 
In my youth this was my playground. When I had 
wilted beneath the severe discipline and long hours of the 
old academy at North Andover, where I was born, I al- 
ways sought health and strength in the sea air and sea 
sports of Duxbury. The promise of a visit here would 
revive my drooping spirits at any moment of depression. 
The warm welcome which my father always met in the 
circle of his relatives and friends here, brought the town 



B6 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

very close to my heart, and gave me the feeling that here 
was my home. The kindness I met here was constant 
and genuine. The sincerity and earnestness of the place 
were charming. How often have I joined a party of pil- 
grims in an excursion to the beach, led by the venerable 
pastor, who partook of all the joys of his people, and 
soothed them in all their sorrows. The family names 
here became household words. I knew well the spot 
from which Judge Sprague went out upon his honorable 
career, and served his country so well as a lawyer, jurist, 
and statesman, with his fascinating and commanding 
presence, with his sonorous and musical voice, and his 
glowing eye not then quenched. To me the name of 
Alden signified not the fair and youthful pilgrim, the wise 
magistrate, the venerable patriarch, alone, but the hus- 
band of Priscilla Mullins who joined him in transmitting 
to my family that freshness and beauty which my grand- 
mother, Alathea Alden, inherited and bestowed upon my 
father and his family as that legacy which we have all 
endeavored to preserve and cherish. To my youthful 
ear the sound of a hundred hammers in the early morn- 
ing hours when a day's labor began at sunrise and ended 
with the summer's sunset, was a music which I can never 
forget, and which we shall probably never hear again. 
A Duxbury ship was to me a barge of beauty ; and 
whatever achievements may be made in naval archi- 
tecture, the names of Sampson, and Weston, and Drew, 
and Frazar, and Loring, and AVinsor will outshine, in my 
mind, all the McKays and Curriers, and Halls that ever 
launched a ship on the Merrimac or the Mystic, or on the 
shores of Noddle's Island, and will share with John 
Roach the fame of those American ship builders whose 
vessels defied the storms of ocean, and resisted the de- 
structive tooth of time. The smooth surface of this laud- 



ANNIVERSARY OF DUXBURY. 67 



locked bay, this calm and quiet sea on which I launched, 
.•as a youth sets forth on the sea of life, to find my way 
:at sunrise around the Gurnet to the broad and swelling 
ocean, to return at noontide laden with a fare which sel- 
dom in these days rewards the fisherman along the waters 
of Massachusetts Bay, is a charming picture still. No 
voyages for health or pleasure have ever equalled these. 
And the long ago weary strolls across these marshes, in 
which my gun was too often idle and I got more exercise 
than game, will always remain in my memory as the most 
heroic achievements of my life. But I look in vain for 
my fellow-fishermen now. The music of those hammers 
is still. The old shipyard in which I used to play, — I 
saw it this morning— not a chip, or timber, or spar, or 
plank there, but a luxuriant greensward where grass is 
growing for cattle, and herb for the service of man. 
And yet my playground is here, and I grow young under 
the influence of the old associations which gather around 
me. It is pleasant to recall the influences which sur- 
rounded the young men of this town in those days of its 
commercial activity and prosperity. 

An industrious life was encouraged by the necessities of 
the people and by the busy throng which occupied every 
shipyard, and by the natural decree that every boy should 
take his place on board ship as soon as he was able to go 
aloft. The communication which existed here between 
the mechanical industry of the town and the commercial 
world beyond, tended to enlarge the comprehension of the 
people and to expand their sympathies and interests. The 
ocean lying near with its fish and game and roaring surf, 
tempting every boy to l)rave danger and defy peril, 
strengthened the manly faculties and cultivated self- 
reliance and courage. The sturdy qualities of the Puritan 
gtill prevailed and life was dignified, thoughtful and 



68 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

earnest. Comfort was to be found everywhere ; luxury 
with its enervating influences was seldom met with. The 
religious sentiment, even while there was a diversity of 
creeds, was marked by lilierality, fervor, and a broad 
humanity. In its blood, and labor, and culture, and 
social and civil organization, the town was essentially 
American. As Plymouth increased in population, and 
the influences which gothcr around a densely populated 
community began to be felt, Duxbury became its rural 
suburbs, and held in its care and keeping the genuine 
spirit of the Pilgrim. Municipal affairs in the town 
meeting, ecclesiastical affairs at the fireside, and in the 
meeting-house, were discussed as John Alden and Elder 
Brewster discussed them. And so Duxbury boys in their 
wanderings always longed to return to their old home ; 
the merchants of Boston always spoke of Duxbury with 
an air of confidence, and I have often thought that the 
great American statesman was attracted hither not alone 
by the wide-spread marshes, and the sea, with their game 
and fish, and their imposing grandeur and mystery, but 
also by the manliness and puritanic strength of the people 
with whom he loved to associate — with whom he did asso- 
ciate so intimately that you can learn of Webster here as 
you can on no other spot on earth. 

We are told that in the early colonial daj^s the fathers 
connected the Plymouth colony with Trimountain, by a 
path known as the Massachusetts way. This highway 
passed through the town of Duxbury, and was traversed 
by her people who participated in the high debate in which 
Winthrop, and Alden, and Standish, and Brewster, toolv 
part. To this way I love to refer. For along its forest 
shades were discussed those great doctrines of church and 
state which give the Puritan his im]Dortance in the history 
pf our country, and which inspire our people to pious and 



ANNIVERSAB Y OF D UXB UR Y. GO 

patriotic effort on all trying occasions. The doctrines 
then discussed lie at tlie foundation of our government. 
The soldiers of the revolution traversed the Massachusetts 
way in their toilsome march for national independence ; 
and the loyal legions of the North in their conflict for the 
union, passed along the Massachusetts way to the field of 
battle with the precepts of the Puritan inscribed on their 
banners and borne on the points of their bayonets to 
victory. With all this noble and heroic endeavor we 
associate the name of Duxbury, and I give you in con- 
clusion : — 

The spirit of Duxbury, may it long prevail ; — the 
people of Duxbury, may they live long and prosper. 

The next sentiment was as follows : 

"Law and Liberty — The Siamese twins of 
modern civilization, they drew breath together 
in the Mayflower, and now reign from ocean to 
ocean.'' 

Hon. Charles Levi Woodbury, of Boston, 
responded. 

SPEECH OF HON. CHARLES LEVI 
WOODBURY. 



Mr. President : 

I am compelled to return on the next train, and have 
but five minutes to address this company. I shall come 
to the point. As I rode along your streets to-day, I 
remarked the beauty of the women who clustered in the 
shade like wild roses, and waved a welcome to your 
guests. I have listened here for the stately orators who 
have preceded me to express their gratitude for this 



70 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

courtesy to our sex, but, alas ! with the shyness of 
youth or the caution bred of prolonged matrimony, they 
have only outpoured on the charms of Priscilla MuUins, 
who departed this life some time since. I am homespun, 
and pin my faith more on the humanity and womanhood 
of to-day than on that of a yesterday century. 

If Priscilla were alive now, she would be two hundred 
and fifty years old, at the least ; but the bright faces and 
sparkling eyes which shed their radiance on this scene, 
although not one tenth as old, inspire my tongue and 
warm my heart. Priscilla may have been passing fair 
for a seventeenth century girl, but this bevy of beauty 
are now reigning, by divine right, over the captured and 
magnetized soldiers and statesmen, citizens and orators, 
drawn together on this occasion. Ladies, believe me, 
we your visitors prefer your smiles even to the retro- 
spective vision of your lovely ancestress who bloomed 
eight generations ago. 

Progress is the law of this republic, and Dnxbury has 
moved far to the front since 1638 ; but this celebration 
will challenge the future. Can A. D. 2087 surpass it? 

As I rode to-day, the house of Judge Sprague was 
pointed out to me. That distinguished jurist and states- 
man your town may well regard as a jewel in her 
coronet. For many years I practiced law at the bar of 
the United States Court, over which he pi'csided, and I 
know the respect entertained for his judicial abilities, 
for his unswerving integrity and clear perceptions. In 
his day and generation he was honored as one of those 
men who give stability to our institutions and credit to 
their native land. I cannot ref^-ain from planting this 
sprig of acacia here in his natiye town a^ my tribute of 
respect to his memory, 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 71 

L SZSl^ 

I suppose I ought to say somethiug about the Pilgrims 
and their hard times. Tiie faint-hearted wlio returned 
told sad tales of the country, and the Fathers who stuck 
to the soil made an eneigetic defence against the impu- 
tations on the country. I was reading it a few evenings 
ago. The faint-hearted reproached this continent of 
ours with the uuwiiolesomeness of the drink, and the 
ferocity of the mosquitoes ! The old Pilgrims replied 
that they had not the wholesome and nourishing ale and 
beer of Old England, — that in truth their purses could 
not all'ord it, — but so far as the water was concerned, it 
was as jjure and wholesome as any in England. As 
for the mosquito business, they replied that the man who 
could be scared off the continent by the mosquitoes, was 
not fit for a settler! Pretty good that for 1624. I have 
not seen a mosquito to-day. Evidently you don't save 
them for your centennial visitors. My time is up. I 
had better things to say, but I must keep them for your 
next centennial. 

The next sentiment, responded to by Hon. 
William T. Davis, of Plymouth, was as follows : 

The Pilgrims — 

The path of duty was the beat they trod ; 
Their daily watchword was the word of God. 

SPEECH OF HON. WILLIAM T. 
DAVIS. 



Mr. President : 

It occurred to me while listening to the admirable 
speech of His Excellency, that in claiming as he has 
repeatedly done, that he was not a speech-maker, he has 



72 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

not been as honest and truth-telling as Governor Baglej- 
of Michigan, whom 1 once heard tell a story concerning 
himself. He said that while running for Governor, as he 
was no speech-maker, he avoided, when possible, every 
occasion where he might be called on to speak. But on 
one occasion during the campaign he could not escape, 
and when called up told the audience that he was no 
speech-maker, that he could not make a speech, and 
indeed, never made a speech in his life, and then went on 
speaking ten or fifteen minutes and sat down surprised 
and pleased with his effort. At the close of the meeting, a 
rough broad shouldered man climbed to the platform and 
seizing him by the hand, said "Mr. Bagley, I have been a 
democrat all my life, but you are an honest man and speak 
the truth, and I am going to vote for you for Governor. 
You said you could 'nt make a speech and darn me if you 
can." 

I have accepted your invitation to join in this celebra- 
tion as a compliment to my native town, to which I may 
perhaps be thought to have rendered an humble service in 
the investigation of its annals. In the performance of this 
service I have been introduced to the annals of your own 
t("Wn, whose earliest history was identical with ours. The 
memories of Brewster, and Standish, and Alden, are sacred 
to us both, while the names of Loriug and Sampson, and 
Soule and Chandler, and Freeman and Holmes, and 
Drew and Bradford are as familiar to our ears as to 
yours. Plymouth sends its cordial greetings to Duxbury 
to-day and mingles its rejoicings with those of its child on 
this the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its 
birth. 

But, sir, I justify my presence here to-day for a per- 
sonal reason with which you and your townsmen are 
probably unfamiliar. I claim the honor, if honor it was — 



ANNIV^RSAR Y of 1) tfXB VR t. 73 

and if not an honor, it was certainly a pleasure — of having 
selected your shore as the landing place of the Atlantic 
cable, which has made the name of your town a familiar 
one on both sides of the ocean. In conversation in 18G7 
or '68 in Boston with a gentleman who was acting as the 
confidential agent of the French company, he asked me 
what spot in my opinion would be a suitable one for the 
landing place of a new cable, which it was proposed to 
lay. It was desired he said to select some spot l)etween 
Boston and Province town, but whatever spot might be 
chosen must not be disclosed until secured, lest obstacles 
might be thrown in the way by the company then in 
operation. After a few moments consideration of the 
various localities, I unhesitatingly answered Salthouse 
Beach. My answers to his further inquiries appearing to 
him satisfactory, he promised to come to Plymouth and 
from there visit the beach. He came the next week as he 
had proposed, accompanied by a director of the company, 
to whom he was unwilling to disclose my knowledge of 
the secret. I gave him directions as to his route to Green 
Harbor, and the name of a fisherman there, whom he 
might consult. He returned in the evening entirely 
satisfied with the locality and wished me to take steps to 
have a meeting of the town, to whom it belonged, speedily 
called, and if possible its purchase secured. I obtained 
from him permission to disclose the purpose of the pur- 
chase to the late Hon. Gershom B.Weston, through whose 
intercession the town was called together, but as the 
selectmen knew nothing of the scheme, the town was 
suspicious of some prejudicial enterprise and refused to 
sell. I then obtained permission for Mr. Weston to make 
the necessary disclosure to the selectmen, and at a second 
meeting, upon their recommendation, the sale was effected, 
and the landing place secured. 



lO 



74 T^yO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

Thus Mr. President, if to Plymouth belongs the honor 
of having been in 1620 the landing place from the storm- 
tossed Mayflower of that little band of heroic men, who 
separated themselves from the hostilities of church and 
state, by which they were encompassed in the old world, 
and founded a nation in this western wilderness ; to 
Duxbury belongs the later honor of having been in 1869 
the landing place from that majestic fleet, which crossed 
the ocean propelled by a power the Pilgrims knew not of 
of that wonderful instrumentality, the offspring of two 
hundred and fifty years of New England civilization, which 
reunited the continents in bonds of friendship and peace. 
I know no period in the world's history, in which civili- 
zation so rapidly advanced and which was so fraught with 
blessings to man, as that of which these two landings 
marked the beginning and the end. Nor is it difficult to 
trace the connection between the two. To the Anglo 
Saxon mind unshackled and set free by those influences, 
which eminated from the settlement of New England, 
have been due that restless activity, that indomitable 
energy, that inventive genius, which have carried the 
world along so fast and so far, and of which the Atlantic 
telegraph is one of the most striking illustrations. 

Mr. President, you have done well to celebrate this 
anniversary. It is profitable at times to release ourselves 
from the cares of the present, and the plans of the 
future, and to revive our memories of those noble men, 
to whom is due so much that the present gives and the 
future promises. We are too apt to look upon the civil- 
ization of to-day as the work of our own hands, and to 
forget that it is the culmination of successive growths in 
generation after generation from the seed our Fathers 
planted. The nation and the people who lose their 
reverence for the past and deride or ignore its lessons and 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 75 

its work, can no more advance to the highest stage of 
progress and development than the buds of S pring can 
burst into bloom and ripen into fruit, when severed from 
the branch through which they have derived their 
sustenance and support. 

"Too cheaply truths, once purchased dear, 

Are made our own ; 
Too long the world hath smiled to hear 
Our boast of full corn in the ear, 

By others sown." 

I trust, sir, that your neighboring town on the north 
will not permit its anniversary year to pass without public 
notice, and regret that at a time when memories of the 
past should bind its citizens more closely together the 
project of dismemberment should have been seriously 
entertained. I sincerely trust that your own ancient 
town, with its hallowed memories and venerable land- 
marks, may forever remain, from Rouses' Hummock to 
Morton's Hole, and from Ashdod to Sodom, prosperous 
and contented, one and inseparable. 

The President then called on Hon. Stephen 
M. Allen, of Boston, by whose active efforts 
the Standish Monument is approaching its 
completion, to respond to the following 
sentiment: 

" Pilgrim Memorials — Let the sons of the 
Pilgrims encourage every effort to fitly com- 
memorate in granite or bronze the manly 
virtues and heroic deeds of their sires," 



76 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 



SPEECH OF HON. STEPHEN M. 
ALLEN. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

The history of Duxbnry would be incomplete indeed, 
without the close and constant intertwining of the names 
of Myles Standish and the Elder Brewster, whose illus- 
trious lives have been so often referred to here to-day. 
Foremost was the former in all that pertained to the 
military watchfulness of the Pilgrims of Plymouth, or, in 
fact, the practical settlement, in a business sense, of all 
the surrounding towns of the colony. The latter led in 
all spiritual matters, and was one of the most liberal 
of the early Pilgrims, and decidedly less bigoted than 
many of the Puritans who settled later at Salem and 
Boston. Both Standish and Brewster enjoyed the per- 
fect confidence of their associates during their whole 
lives, and were wonderfully attracted to each other. It 
was their warm personal feeling that led them to settle so 
near each other on farms at Duxbury Nook. Here they 
lived and died, and here still may be recognized the 
cellar walls of their respective houses. The grave of 
Standish, so long unknown, is now believed to be in the 
first burying ground, on a knoll at the site of the first 
church built at Duxbury, on the shore near what is called 
Morton's Hole, about half a mile south of Hall's Corner 
on the road to Kingston. 

Both Standish and Brewster left children, and now 
have very numerous descendants living in various parts 
of the country. Reference has been made to families 



ANNIVERSARY OF DUXBURY. 77 

upon both sides, as well as that of John Alden and the 
far-famed Priscilla. It is not strange that so great 
claim has been set up to-day for relationship to these 
illustrious forefathers of the hamlet. This, I suppose, of 
course is permissible, without charge of egotism, if only 
made personally prominent once in two hundred and 
fifty years. The claim to kinship has been carried to a 
high degree of pleasantry to-day before this audience, 
especially by the distinguished gentleman from Essex, 
who has not only affirmed that his ancestress, the fair 
Priscilla, was one of the best, but one of the most 
beautiful women of the colony. It would not become a 
Standish, of whom there are fine representatives present 
to-day, to run a tilt with the gentleman for such an 
honorable claim, — for a lineage from a knighthood of 
five hundred years would not dare, even in Republican 
government, to claim an honor belonging to the weaker 
sex. For my own family, so intimately associated 
by personal service and the intermingling of blood 
with that of Myles Standish, I shall yield no claim to 
valor through that relation, whatever may be the neces- 
sary and proper concessions to the beauty of the 
descendants of the patronizing wife of John Alden, her 
successful wooer. 

Reference has been made to the Standish Monument 
now in process of erection on Captain's Hill, and great 
desire has been expressed to see it finished. I am now 
happy to throw some light on this subject which will 
clear the originators from any blame concerning the 
delay in the matter, and which the easier enables me, in 
their behalf, to conuuit the work to an appreciative 
public who will have the honor of finishing the structure. 
It may not be generally known that of the twenty- 
seven thousand dollars expended in carrying up the 



78 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

monument seventy-two feet to its present height, twenty- 
five thousand dollars were furnished by five individuals, 
only one of whom lives in Duxbury, or the County of 
Plymouth. This sum was much more than they origi- 
nally subscribed, and the probabilities of a still further 
advance from them was lessened by the personal loss to 
these individuals through the great fire and panic which 
followed, of more than a million and a half of dollars. 
Two individuals have since subscribed one thousand 
dollars each towards finishing the structure, and the 
town of Duxbury, and the public genei'ally, are now 
deeply interesting themselves for its final completion at 
an early day. 

As a last sentiment, the President gave the 
following : 

"John Alden — His modesty has come down 
to his descendants honored in our midst. To 
be heard from, they must be asked "Why don't 
you speak for yourself, John 1 " 

Capt. John Alden, of Duxbury, a lineal 
descendant from John Alden of the Mayflower, 
responded in an appropriate speech. 

The speeches at the dinner were inter- 
spersed with enlivening music from the South 
Weymouth, Randolph and Plymouth Bands, 
and the singing by Comrade William H. Gray, 
of the Plymouth Grand Army Post, of a piece 
entitled "The Sword of Bunker Hill," and at 
half past five the exercises closed. 



Anniversary of duxbury. 



LETTERS. 



Besides the letter of the President of the 
United States, read by Governor Long in his 
speech, the following letters were received by 
the Committee of Arrangements, in response 
to invitations to attend the celebration as 
guests of the town : 

From Hon. Robert C. Winthroj): 

Bkookline, Mass., June 11, 1887. 
W. J. Alden, Jr., P]sQ., Secretary: 

Dear Sir — I am honored and obliged by the invi- 
tation to the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth 
anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Duxbury, 
on the 17th inst. 

I regret that it will be out of my power to be with you, 
and I can only offer you my grateful acknowledgments 
and best wishes. 

Yours respectfully and truly, 

ROBERT C. WINTHROP. 



Fro7n Hon. Edioard S. Tohey : 

Boston, June 9, 1887. 
Dear Sir — It affords me pleasure to acknowledge 
the receipt of your complimentary invitation to attend 
the approaching celebration, on the 17th inst., of the 
two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation 
of the town of Duxbury. 



80 two HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

I greatly regret that circumstances will deprive me of 
the privilege of uniting with others in the exercises 
of this interesting occasion. 

Identified as I have been with the history and people 
of this ancient town, as the home of my maternal ances- 
tors, and in early youth with one of her educational 
institutions, and having been at a more recent period 
actively related to her commercial and ship-building 
interests, I am the more especially in full sympathy with 
the approaching important event, which will add another 
chapter to her already interesting history. 

As I occasionally revisit these scenes of my youth, 
it is with mingled pleasure and sadness that I am 
reminded of the many intelligent and enterprising men 
who once gave their energies to its business interests, 
and with whom it was my privilege to be associated, but 
who now have gone to their rest. 

Assuring you of my appreciation of the courtesy 
implied by your invitation, I remain, 

Very respectfully, yours, 

EDWARD S. TOBEY. 

To William J. Wright, P^sq., Chairman, Duxbury : 



From Rev. Edivard Everett Hale: 

South CoNGRE(iATioNAL Church, 
Boston, May 24, ISSi 
Dear Sir — I have great pleasure in accepting your 
kind invitation for the celebration of June 17th. 



IRCH, 1 

^7. I 



Truly yours, 

EDWARD E. HALE. 





STANDISH MONUMENT. 



ANmVJ^RSARY OF DUXBUtlY. 8l 

Ithaca, New York, May 31, 1887. 
Dear Winsor — I am sorry to find that, after all, I 
cannot be at Duxbury. I have not here the address of 
the committee. May I ask you to forward the enclosed 
to them? Always yours, 

EDWARD E. HALE. 



1. I 



From Hon. John D. Washburn:- 

American Antiquarian Society, 
Worcester, Mass., May 23, 1887. 
William J. Alden, Jr., Esq., Secretary : 

Dear Sir — I am much gratified by your invitation to 
attend the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary cele- 
bration of Duxbury. 

I am to leave this week for Chicago and the farther 
West. It is possible that I may not return in season to 
attend the celebration ; but if I can, I shall certainly be 
there. It would be a great pleasure to listen to the 
address of my distinguished friend and Harvard class- 
mate, Mr. Winsor, and to revisit scenes, familiar to me 
as a schoolboy, nearly forty years ago, and to which I 
have been ever since a stranger. 

Nothing less than accident, or stern necessity, will 
prevent my being with you. 

Very truly yours, 

JOHN D. WASHBURN. 



From Rev. Henry Martyn Dexter., D. D. : 

Congregational House, 1 Somerset Street, | 
Boston, Ju;ie lU, 1887. j 

Dear Sir — My father. Rev. H. M. Dexter, D. D., 
whom you have invited to the Duxbury celebi'atiou on 

II 



'82 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

June 17th, sailed for Europe yesterday, and asked me to 
convey to you his thanks for your courtesy, and his 
regrets that he cannot take advantage of it. 

Very truly yours, 

MORTON DEXTER. 
W. J. Alden, Jr. 



From William Everett: 

QuiNCY, May 4, 1887. 
My Deak Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge your 
complimentary invitation to take a part in the Duxbury 
celebration on the 17th of June next. I have to reply 
ihat I am previously engaged for that day. 

Respectfully yours, 

WILLIAM EVERETT. 



From Mi/les Standish, Esq. : 
128 Broadway, New York, June 10, 1887. 

My Dear Sir — I am greatly obliged for the tickets of 
invitation to the Duxbury celeln-ation on the 17th, which 
I find on my return to this city to-day from an absence of 
some time. 

It would give me great pleasure to be present at an 
occasion so historically and personally interesting, mark- 
ing as it does one of the chains of events which made 
New England and, in fact, the country, what it is. 

I shall make an effort to attend, and beg to express 
my appreciation of the courtesy of your committee in 
inviting me. I am, very truly, yours, 

MYLES STANDISH. 

William J. Wright, Chairman. 



ANNIVERSARY OF DUXBURY. 83 



FIELD AND WATER SPORTS. 



These were under the efficient management 
of Mr. Frederick B. Knapp, one of the Com- 
mittee of Arrangements, and began at two 
o'clock, according to the following programme : 



Fie 


LD Sports 












Base Ball, 


1st Prize, 


$10 


00 








Obstacle Race, 


u 




1 


50 


2d Prize, 


SO 


75 


Throwing Ball, 


(( 




1 


00 


i. 1. 




50 


Three-Legged Race, 


(.i 




2 


00 


i. i 


1 


00 


220-yard Dash, 


(.(, 




2 


00 


i( 


1 


00 


100-yard Dash, 


u 




1 


50 


u 


1 


00 


Standing Broad Jump, 


1. ( 




1 


00 








Sack Race, 


u 




2 


00 








Throwing 16-lb. hammer 


u 




2 


00 


2d Prize, 


1 


00 


Running Broad Jump, 


11 




1 


00 








Running High Jump, 


C k 




1 


00 








Putting Shot, 


u 




1 


50 


2d Prize, 


1 


00 



Water Sports. 

Tub Race, 1st Prize, $2 00 2d Prize, Si 00 

Walkino- Greased Pole 



.V 



3 00 



over water with bare feet, 

Swimming Race, " 2 00 



84 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

The judges awarded the following prizes : 
Base Ball. 
Lawrence White, of Plymouth, Umph-e. 
To Plymouth Club, which won the game against 

the " Rangers," of Plymouth, . . . $10 00 
Obstacle Race. 

J. Barrows, 1st prize, $1 50 

J. T. Gushing and J. Coogan, . . 2d " 75 

Throwing Ball. 

Barlow, 1st prize, $1 00 

J. Barrows, 2d " 50 

Three-Legged Race. 

J. Bowler and J. Coogan, . . .1st prize, $2 00 

M. Howard and J. O'Brien, . . 2d " 1 00 

220-yard Dash. 

J. Coogan, 1st Prize, $2 00 

J. T. Cushing, 2d " 1 00 

100- YARD Dash. 
J. Coogan, . . . . .1st Prize, $1 50 

J. T. Cushing, 2d " 1 00 

Standing Broad Jump. 

P. J. Fitzgerald, $1 00 

Sack Race. 

M. Nelligan, $2 00 

Throwing Hammer. 
P. J. Fitzgerald, . . . .1st Prize, $2 00 

J. Coogan, 2d " 1 00 

Running Broad Jump. 

P. J. Fitzgerald, $1 00 

Running High Jump. 

J. Coogan, $1 00 

Putting Shot. 
P. J. Fitzgerald, . . . .1st Prize, $1 50 

J. Coogan, 2d " 1 00 

Tub Race. 

J. Barrows, 1st Prize, $2 00 

J. Bowler, 2d " 1 00 

Walking Greased Pole over Water with Bare Feet. 

George Cobbett, $3 00 

Swimming Race. 
M. Nelligan, $2 00 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 85 



FIREWORKS. 



At eight o'clock in the evening, a fine dis- 
play of fireworks was exhibited, under the 
direction of Mr. J. W. Swift, on the hill upon 
the grounds of the George Loring estate, 
and gave great satisfaction. The display was 
enlivened by music of the Bands, and was a 
fitting termination to the out-of-door exercises 
of the day. 

BALL. 



The celebration closed with a ball in Dux- 
bury Hall, which was well attended. Buffum's 
Orchestra, of Boston, furnished the music, and 
Harvey Blunt, of Boston, who furnished the 
dinner, was the caterer. The ball was con- 
ducted under the management of the following 
gentlemen : 

Committee of Arrangements. 
William J. Wright, Laurence Bradford, 
Frederick B. Knapp, Benjamin G. Gaboon, 
LeBaron Goodwin, J. W. Swift. 

Floor Directors. 
Levi P. Simmons, 
W. J. Alden, Jr., J. L. McNaught. 

Aids. 
D. S. Goodspeed, 
C. P. Dorr, J. W. Tower. 



86' 



TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 



A concert preceded the ball, consisting of 
the following programme : 

Werner 

Offenbach 

Stromherg 



March, "Anniversary," 
Overture, " Orpheus," . 
Scherzo, " Natta," 



ORDER OF DANCES. 



11 

12 
13 
14 



1. Quadrille, "Almacks," . . . Strauss 

2. Quadrille, " Elk's Favorite," . . Becker 

3. Waltz, "Fedora," .... Buccalosi 

4. Portland Fancy, ..... Catlin 

5. Polka, " Victoria," .... Francke 

6. Lancers, " Ruddy gore," . . . Sullivan 

Schottische and York. 

7. Contra, Virginia Reel. 

Circle and Grand March, "Czarinas," Bennett 

INTERMISSION. 

Waltz, Galop and Newport. 

8. Quadrille, " Orpheus," . . . Offenbach 

9. Polka Quadrille, "L'esprit Francais," Waldteufel 
10. Quadrille Caledonia, "Bells of Edinboro," Catlin 

Waltz and York. 

Quadrille, " Blue Eyes," . . Stuckenlotz 

Lancers, " Erminie," . . . Jackobonski 

Schottische Quadrille, " Ideal," . . Biff am 

Quadrille, "Mascot," .... Audran 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. Sf 

With the ball, the festivities of the two 
hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incor- 
poration of I3uxbury were brought to a close. 
The celebration was happily conceived, liber- 
ally supported, and ably managed. During the 
day, the houses of Mr. George W. Wright and 
of the gentlemen composing the committee of 
arrangements were open to all guests, and the 
hospitality of the citizens was generous. The 
houses and grounds along the line of the pro- 
cession were decorated, and every flag staff 
bore the flag of the Union. The sons and 
daughters of the ancient tow^n, from far 
and near, were present to revive the mem- 
ories of their early days. When in the year 
1937 the three hundredth anniversary shall 
come round, this record will bear witness to 
those of other generations to the patriotic 
spirit of their fathers, and be an incentive to 
them to commemorate anew the virtues and 
deeds of the Pilgrims. 



STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT OI^ 

JOHN S. LORING, . 
Treasurer of Celebration Committee. 



Amount received from contributions 

and collections, . . . $834 82 

Amount of net sales of dinner 

tickets, 436 00 

Amount of town appropriation, . 300 00 



Total amount, .... $1,570 82 



Amount of expenses, bills paid, $1,516 10 
Balance in hands of Treasurer, . 54 72 



Total amount, .... $1,570 82 



JOHN S. LORING, Treasurer. 
DuxBURY, July, 1887. 
ILOFC, 



AliimVEliSAE y OF D UXB UR Y. 89 



NOTES ON ILLUSTRATIONS. 



THE PARTRIDGE ACADEISIY. 

The I'artridge Academy was founded l)y Hon. George 
ravtridge, of Duxbury, who died July 7th, 1828. Mr. 
Partridge was descended from George Partridge, who 
was among the earliest settlers of Duxbury, through his 
sou John, born in 1657, and grandson George, born in 
in 1690. He was the son of the last named George, and 
was born in Duxbury, February 8th, 1740, and graduated 
at Harvard in 1762. He was a man of whom every son 
of Duxbury should Ije proud, and whose memory as a 
patriot, and statesman, and benefactor of his native 
town should be held in reverence. No man in the annals 
of Duxbury had a more distinguished career. After 
leaving college he taught school in Kingston and other 
places for several years, and then studied for the 
pulpit. The exciting times which preceded the Revo- 
lution brought him, however, into i^ublic life, and he 
never became a settled minister. In 1774 and 1775 
he was a delegate to the Provincial Congress, and from 
1775 to 1779 a Representative. From 1779 to 1785, 
with the exception of one year, he was a delegate to the 
Continental Congress, and from 1789 to 1791 a member 
of the Congress of the United States. From 1779 to 
1814 he was High Sheriff of Plymouth County, with the 
exception of the year 1813, when the office was held by 
Albert Smith. His predecessor as sheriff was James 
Warren, of Plymouth, appointed in 1762, and his suc- 
cessor was Dr. Nathan Hayward, of Plymouth, appointed 
in 1814. His will, dated August 14th, 1823. contained 
the following clause : 



II 



no TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

"I give and bequeath to Rev. John AUyn, D. D., 
of Duxbury, Rev. Zephaniah Willis, of Kingston, Rev. 
James Kendall, of Plymouth, Samuel A. Frazar, Esq., 
of Duxbury, and John Sever, Esq., of Kingston, ten 
thousand dollars in the six per cent, stock of the United 
States, in trust, for the establishment of a school or 
academy in the town of Duxbury, and my will is that 
the said trustees and their successors keep the said sum 
at interest, and interest at interest, in some safe fund, 
the accruing interest from time to time to be received 
until by accumulation the fund shall be sufficient, in the 
estimation of the trustees, for the purchase of a lot of 
land and for the erection of a suitable building and 
accommodations for such school or academy, and for the 
support of the same respectably and advantageously, 
with such aid as may be derived fiom assessments on 
pupils received from other towns. And for the main- 
tenance of said trust it is my will and direction that, 
upon the death, resignation or incapacity of any of said 
trustees, the remaining trustees shall forthwith supply 
such vacancy by their election ; and when, by accumu- 
lation of the fund, it shall be thought expedient to 
establish and open said school or academy, the trustees 
then in being shall add two more to their number, 
making seven the full and complete board for putting 
this bequest into operation, and for the entire regulation 
and control of said institution and all its interests and 
concerns, the said l)oard of trustees to fill all vacancies 
in their number occasioned by death or otherwise, by 
election to be made by the surviving or remaining 
trustees or a majority of them ; and to obtain and 
receive corporate powers for all the purposes of the 
institution, if an incorporation shall be thought necessary 
or expedient. 

In regard to the conducting of the affairs of said 
school or academy, I rely on the prudence and intelli- 
gence of the trustees, who will determine the objects and 
modes of instruction. My desire and intention is to 
provide in my native town for a higher degree of 



ANNIVERSAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 91 



instruction in the Mathematics, Geography, History, 
Languages, and other brandies of good learning tlian 
the common schools supply, but not to provide a sub- 
stitute for such schools so important to be constantly 
maintained. The trustees will therefore regulate the 
age at which scholars should be received in said school 
or academy. It is my direction that they l)e not admitted 
under ten years of age. and the trustees are at liberty to 
assign a different limitation, not exceeding twelve years 
of age, for the time of admission. They will also direct 
whether the institution shall be open for the reception of 
the youth of both sexes or be confined to l)oys. In 
regard to the location of the school or academ}', my will 
is that it be in such part of the towMi of Duxbury as I 
ma}', in writing, under my hand designate and leave with 
one of the trustees above named ; and if no such desig- 
nation be left by me, then the location to I)e in such 
place in the town of Duxbury as a majority of the full 
board of seven trustees shall determine. I further will 
and direct that, in case of applications for admission 
into said school or academy being at any time beyond 
the regulated number, the applications from the town of 
Duxbury shall have priority ; and scholars from said 
town shall be received and instructed in said school or 
academy free of assessment or expense, excepting fuel 
and for books, paper and other materials necessary in 
their education, and not belonging to the institution." 

After the death of Mr. Partridge, application was 
made by the trustees to the General Court for an act 
of incorporation, and on the thirteenth of February, 
1829, an act was passed entitled an "Act to Incorporate 
the Trustees of Partridge Academy in Duxbury." In 
1830 Rev. Zephaniah Willis, one of the trustees, 
resigned, and Gershom B. Weston was chosen in his 
place. In 183-4 George P. Richardson, of Duxbury, was 
chosen in place of Rev. Dr. John Allyn, deceased. In 
J 838 Rev. Josiah Moore, of Duxbury, was chosen 



92 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

in place of Samuel A. Frazar, deceased. In 1840 
Thomas P. Beal, of Kingston, and Benjamin Aklen, of 
Duxbury, were added to the board, making the number 
of trustees seven. In 1843 the academy was built, 
and in 1844 it was opened. In 1845 Rev. George W.- 
Briggs, of Plymouth, was chosen in the place of John 
Sever, resigned. In 1852 Seth Sprague, of Duxbury, 
was chosen in the place of Thomas P. Beal, deceased. 
In 1853 Daniel I.. Winsor, of Duxbury, was chosen in 
the place of Rev. George W. Briggs, resigned. In 1854 
Briggs Thomas, of Duxbury, was chosen in place of 
Rev. Dr. James Kendall, resigned. In 1857 Joseph T. 
Wadsworth, of Duxbury, was chosen in place of Seth 
Sprague, deceased, and Dr. John Porter, of Duxbury, in 
place of Gershom B. Weston, resigned. In 1862 George 
W. Ford, of Duxbury, was chosen in place of George P. 
Richardson, resigned, and in 1864 Dr. James Wilde was 
chosen in place of Daniel L. Winsor, resigned. In 
1865 Hambleton E. Smith, of Duxbury, was chosen in 
place of Dr. John Porter, deceased, and in 1866 John 
S. Loring, of Duxbury, was chosen in place of Joseph F. 
Wadsworth, deceased. In 1870 Samuel Loring, of Dux- 
bury, was chosen in place of Benjamin Alden, deceased, 
and in 1876 Elbridge II. Chandler, of Duxbury, in place 
of Briggs Thomas, resigned. In 1878 Rev. Frederick N. 
Knapp, of Plymouth, was chosen in place of Rev. Josiah 
Moore, resigned, and in 1887 John H. Parks, of Dux- 
bury, and Frederick B. Knapp, of Duxbury, were chosen 
in the places of Samuel Loring, deceased, and George W. 
Ford, resigned. The present trustees are James AVilde, 
President ; Hambleton E. Smith, Clerk ; John S. Loring, 
Treasurer ; Elbridge H. Chandler, John H. Parks and 
Frederick B. Knapp, of Duxbury, and Frederick N. 
Knapp, of Plymouth. 



ANNIVEESAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 03 



The teachers at present connected with the academy 
are Charles T. Jacobs, Principal, and Stella C. Jacobs, 
Assistant. 

The present amount of the academy fund is $2'), ()()(). 

THE MEETING HOUSE OF THE FIRST PARISH. 

The First Parish of Duxbury dates back to about 
1632, when a few of the Plymouth Colonists having 
obtained grants of lauds '' on the other side of the bay," 
had made Duxbury their permanent place of residence. 
In 1637 Rev. Ralph Partridge was settled, and preached 
in a meeting house near the water in the southeastern 
part of the town. JNIr. Partridge died in 1658 and was 
succeeded by Rev. Jolui Holmes, who died in 1675. 
Rev. Ichabod AViswall was settled in 1676 and died in 
1700. It is probable that up to 1707 the old meeting 
house was used, and that a new one was erected at the 
easterly end of what is now called the " old graveyard," 
near Hall's Corner. There was, however, an earlier 
burial place which, according to Mr. Winsor, "was a 
knoll in the southeastern part, at Harden Hill," near the 
old meeting house. In this first graveyard it is prob- 
able that Mr. Partridge and Mr. Holmes were buried. 
Mr. Wiswall was buried in the second graveyard above 
mentioned. Some evidence has recently come to light 
tending to ^.how that Miles Standish was buried in the 
Burial Ground near Hall's Corner, and that the two 
three-cornered stones on the northwesterly side of the 
main path in the centre of the yard mark his grave. 
It is, however, quite probable that the graveyards in 
Duxbury have always been church yards, and that as 
often as a new site was chosen for the church a new 
yard was established. If this theory be correct, Standish 
was probably buried iu the old yard near the first church 
fit Harden Hill, 



94 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH 

In 1702 Rev. John Robinson was settled, and in 1738 
he resigned. In 1739 Rev. John Veazie was settled, and 
resigned in 1750. In 1750 tlie meeting house, built in 
1707, was enlarged. Rev. Charles Turner was settled 
in 1755, and resigned in 1775. Rev. Zedekiah Sanger 
was settled in 177G, and resigned in 178G. During the 
ministry of Mr. Sangei', a new meeting house was 
erected in 1784-5 on the site of the present one, and 
the new burying ground adjoining it was opened in 1787. 
Rev. John Allyn was settled in 1788 and died in 1833. 
During the ministry of Mr. Allyn, George Partridge, of 
Duxbury, by his will bearing date August 14th, 1823, 
and its codicil bearing date November 28th, 1826, 
bequeathed the sum of $10,000 to trustees for the sup- 
port of the ministry '' in the First Congregational Church 
or Parish, "and on the twenty-fourth of February, 1829, 
the trustees named in the codicil to the will were incor- 
porated as "the Trustees of the Partridge Ministerial 
Fund in Duxbury." 

In 1826 Rev. Benjamin Kent was settled as colleague 
to Mr. Allyn, and after his resignation, which took place 
in 1833, Rev. Josiah Moore was settled in 1834, during 
whose ministry in 1840 the present meeting house was 
built. 

STANDISII MONUMENT. 

This monument, now building under the direction of 
the "Standish Monument Association," is situated on the 
summit of Captain's Hill, whieli is one hundred and eighty 
feet above the sea. When finished, it will be one hun- 
dred and ten feet high, and be surmounted by a statue in 
stone of Miles Standish, fourteen feet in height. 

"The ground for the site of the monument was dedi- 
cated with appropriate services, October 10th, 1871, and 
the first earth was broken June 17th, 1872. The corner 



ANmVEESAR Y OF D UXB UR Y. 05 



stone, with appro[)ri:ite inilitury unci masonic exorcises, 
was laid October Ttli, 1.S72, in tlie ])resence of ten 
tlionsand persons, under the superintendence of Edwin 
Adams, Esq., and tlie worlv went on till tlie cold weather 
prevented further action. In April, 187:5, the cutting of 
stone for tlie sliaft was commenced, on tlie ground, from 
large slabs of granite, which had been prepared Un- the 
purpose, from the Ilallowell (Quarries. During the latter 
part of the summer, work on the octagon base was 
begun, under the direction of Nathaniel Adams, Esq., 
master of construction, wliich is now completed, and 
together with the portion of the shaft iinished rises to the 
altitude of seventy-two feet from the base, or two hun- 
dred and fifty-two feet above the level of the sea. The 
stones used are massive, many of them weighing from 
three to live tons each, which Avhen all set will make an 
imposing structure. The stones encircling the U)Y> of the 
octagon base represent the counties of the Common- 
wealth, suitably inscribed, while four sunken panels on 
the sides, each containing four stones, will admit sixteen 
names of the associates of Captain Standish in the great 
work accomplished by the Pilgrim Fathers. The inner 
room of the octagon base, which wnll be about twenty-one 
feet across by twenty feet high, is formed to receive 
tablets of religious, historical, masonic, and other 
societies, mechanical and mercantile associations, regi- 
mental and other military stones, while the whole inside 
of the shaft above, including the sides of the cone 
around which tlie stones circle, will lie studded with the 
military company stones of this and other states, and 
such other tablets, individual or otherwise, as may be 
thought best to insert to commemorate and perpetuate 
the works and names of Captain Standish and his asso- 
ciates, in connection and contrast with the progress of 



06 



TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH. 



individual and collective efforts and advancement of the 
present day." 

The officers of the Standish Monument Association, 
which was incorporated May 4th, 1872, are as follows : 



Pkesidekt. 

Gen. Horace Binney Sargent. 

Advisory Presidents. 



Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, 
Hon. Alexander H. Rice, 
Hon. J. R. Bodwell, 
Gen. Benjamin F. Butlei', 
Hon. George B. Loring, 
Hon. Charles M. Bliss, 



Hon. Miles Standish. 



Hon. Edward S. Tobey, 
Hon. Roland Worthington, 
Hon. Joseph H. Stickney, 
Hon. Nathaniel J. Bradlee, 
Hon. John D. Long, 
Hon. John F. Andrew, 



DlIiEfiTOliS. 



Hon. Thomas Russell, 
L. Miles Standish, 
Samuel Loring, 
Stephen M. Allen, 
Edwin Adams, 
George Curtis, 
Oliver Ditson, 
William H. Colcord, 



Hambleton E. Smith, 
John .S. Loring, 
Alden Frink, 
George AV. Wright, 
Joshua M. Gushing, 
Dr. Ira L. Moore, 
Harrison Loring, 
J. F. Southworth. 



Secretary, 



Capt. Thomas F. Temple. 

COREESPOXDING SECRETARY. 

Stephen M. Allen. 
Treasurer. 
Hon. Edward S. Tobey. 
Architect, -------- Alden Frink. 



Executive Committee. 



L. Miles Standish, 
Hon. E. S. Tobey, 
Harrison Loring, 
Gen. H. B. Sargent, 
Isaac Keene, 
Alden S. Bradford, 



Samuel Loring, 
Stephen W. Allen, 
Edwin Adams, 
Dr. Gushing Webber, 
George Brailford, 
Dr. Ira L. Moore. 



Finance Committee. 



Hon. Alexander H. Rice, 
Hon. Edward S. Tobey, 
Oliver Ditson, 
Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, 



W. S. Danforth. 



Jonathan S. Ford, 
Nathan Matthews, 
Hon. George B. Loring, 
William J. Wright, 



Corporate Members. 



Rev. E. E. Hale, 
William B. Weston, 
Jonathan S. Ford, 
Thomas Chandler, 
Dr. Gushing Webber, 
William S. Wright, 
F. B. Sherman, 
Charles H. Chandler, 
Benjamin F. Standish, 
W S. Danforth, 
Josiah Peterson, 
Nathan Morse, 
Charles M. Cook, 



Hon. Samuel C. Cobb, 
Walter S. Sampson, 
Nathan Matthews, 
Isaac Keene, 
Dr. James Wilde, 
Samuel Atwell, 
Edwin C. Bailey, 
Elbridge H. Chandler, 
William S. Adams, 
George Bradford, 
Parker C. Richardson, 
Alden S. Bradford, 
Dr. Calvin Pratt. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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